HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum

George Mudie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets have been set within her Department for the time for processing applications for leave to remain at each stage; and what the anticipated month and year is in which the application made by Mr Last Manzini (M1175940) in February 2005 will be decided.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 7 July 2008.

Asylum: Children

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive on procedures in place for dealing with unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the UK who are resident in Scotland.

Liam Byrne: A number of discussions between the UK Border Agency and the Scottish Executive at official level have taken place over the past 12 months about reforms of the support and management of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. These will continue as the reform progresses.

Asylum: Zimbabwe

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals from Zimbabwe have claimed asylum in the UK in each of the last 24 months; how many of these claims have been rejected; and how many rejections were made in whole or in part on the basis of a connection with Zanu-PF.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 7 July 2008
	The table gives the most recently published figures available and shows the total number of Zimbabwean principal asylum applications made between April 2006 and March 2008; and the total number of refusals, following initial decisions. The table includes people who have been refused asylum but have been granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. The requested information on those refused asylum on the basis of connection with Zanu-PF is unavailable as it is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on asylum is published annually and quarterly. Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2007 and the Q2 2008 Asylum Bulletin will be available on 21 August 2008 from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	
		
			  Asylum applications( 1)  received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, land initial decisions( 2)  on applications, April 2006 to March 2008 by month, nationals of Zimbabwe 
			  Principal applicants 
			Decisions 
			   Applications  O f which:  Grants of :  
			   Total  Total decisions  Grants of asylum  H umanitarian protection  D iscretionary leave  Refusals 
			  2006   
			 April 140 210 10 0 5 190 
			 May 110 215 20 0 0 190 
			 June 115 120 10 0 0 110 
			 July 140 100 10 0 * 85 
			 August 70 80 10 *  70 
			 September 75 125 5 0 5 120 
			 October 75 80 5 0 0 75 
			 November 85 80 10 0 * 75 
			 December 75 75 5 0 * 70 
			 2006 Q2 to Q4 total 885 1,085 85 * 20 980 
			
			  2007   
			 January 105 85 15 0 * 65 
			 February 100 110 15 0 5 95 
			 March 120 115 10 0 0 105 
			 April 130 120 25 * * 95 
			 May 105 155 15 0 * 140 
			 June 140 135 20 0 0 115 
			 July 150 160 25 0 0 135 
			 August 130 105 20 0 0 85 
			 September 165 100 25 0 5 70 
			 October 255 125 45 0 * 80 
			 November 210 135 30 0 5 105 
			 December 145 80 10 0 * 70 
			 2007 total 1,755 1,425 250 * 20 1,155 
			
			  2008   
			 January 180 110 25 * * 80 
			 February 185 145 30 0 15 100 
			 March 280 120 30 0 * 90 
			 2008 Q1 total 640 375 90 * 15 270 
			 * = One or two. (1) Provisional figures rounded to nearest five. (2) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.  Source: Immigration Research and Statistics

Borders: Personal Records

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will next meet her EU counterparts to discuss the use of passenger name record data held by airlines.

Liam Byrne: The use of passenger name record data is expected to be discussed at the next Justice and Home Affairs Formal Council meeting on 24 and 25 July.
	Ministers have already met their European Union counterparts on this issue several times in the past few months, including at the EU Justice and Home Affairs Formal Council in June. They have also discussed this topic with Members of the European Parliament, several of whom have visited the UK's central unit for the processing of passenger name record data.

Departmental Expert Groups

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expert groups her Department set up in each year since 1999.

Liam Byrne: Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent, expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication. "Public Bodies" also contains some details on short-term advisory groups and task forces. Copies of "Public Bodies" dating back to 1999 can be viewed and downloaded from:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp.
	Copies are also available in the Library for the reference of Members.
	The Home Office published Public Bodies 2007 to supplement the central publication produced by Cabinet Office and will continue to do this on an annual basis. The document can be downloaded from:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/public-bodies-2007?view=Binary.

Departmental Home Working

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in her Department are authorised to work from home.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office does not keep a central record of those staff that are able or who have permission to work at home and obtaining this information could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	Managers have discretion for deciding whether their staff work are allowed to work at home. The Department offers a range of flexible working patterns, including home working where this may be appropriate, to help staff balance both work and home responsibilities. Staff are allowed to work at home for a number of reasons and comprise both short-term and longer-term arrangements.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 897W, on departmental official hospitality, when she expects the list of hospitality received in 2007 by members of her Department's management board to be published.

Liam Byrne: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave him on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 885W.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in her Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Liam Byrne: The following two tables detail the average hourly rates of pay for Departmental staff, broken down by grade. Table 1 is for permanent employees and Table 2 is for non-permanent and contract employees. The figures cover staff in the core Department, UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau. All figures are taken from the May 2008 payroll.
	The average pay figures are based on each employee's main salary payment (known as 'national pay'). They do not include additional allowances such as London Weighting payments.
	
		
			  Table 1: Home Office average 'national pay' rates by grade 
			  Grade description  Hourly average rate (£) 
			 Passport Offr 1 UKPA Nat 6.23 
			 SGB 2 HO National 6.29 
			 AA HO National 6.30 
			 AA HO Gatwick 6.52 
			 SGB 2 HO London 6.82 
			 SGB2 HO Gatwick 6.91 
			 AA HO London 6.93 
			 Assist Immigration Off HO Nat 7.02 
			 SGB 1 HO National 7.15 
			 AO HO National 7.21 
			 Typist HO London 7.31 
			 Passport Offr 2 UKPA Nat 7.35 
			 Typist HO National 7.42 
			 CRB3 7.46 
			 CRB1 7.53 
			 AO Sandridge London 7.64 
			 AO HO Gatwick 7.78 
			 Personal SEC HO Gatwick 7.81 
			 Passport Offr 3 UKPA Nat 7.83 
			 Assist Immigration Off HO Gat 7.85 
			 SGB 1 HO London 7.87 
			 Assist Immigration OFF HO Lon 7.87 
			 SGB2 Sandridge London 7.89 
			 Typist HO Gatwick 7.89 
			 Personal Secretary HO Nat 7.95 
			 AO HO London 7.96 
			 SGB1 Sandridge London 8.02 
			 Passport Offr 1 UKPA Lon 8.31 
			 Support Manager 3 HO Nat 8.61 
			 Personal Secretary HO Lon 8.73 
			 Technical Grade 2 HO Nat 8.77 
			 Typing Manager HO Lon 8.77 
			 Support Manager 3 HO Lon 8.88 
			 Senior Personal Sec HO Nat 9.32 
			 EO HO National 9.49 
			 EOCRB 9.50 
			 EO UKPA National 9.65 
			 EO Sandridge London 9.75 
			 Support Manager 2 HO National 9.77 
			 Asst Scientific Off Sandridge 9.91 
			 Passport Offr 3 UKPA Lon 10.05 
			 SPS Nat CRB 10.10 
			 EO HO London 10.11 
			 Technical Grade 1 Sandridge 10.11 
			 Non Exec. Dir. 10.19 
			 Support Manager 2 HO Lon 10.22 
			 Immigration Off HO Nat 10.46 
			 EO HO Gatwick 10.52 
			 Assist Scientific Off HO Lon 10.55 
			 Senior Personal Sec HO Lon 10.69 
			 Immigration Off HO Lon 10.73 
			 Senior Personal Sec Sandridge 10.75 
			 Asst Information Off HO Nat 10.86 
			 Scientific Officer HO Nat 10.92 
			 Immigration Off HO Gat 10.94 
			 EO Accountant HO National 11.42 
			 Psychologist HO Lon 11.47 
			 Research Offr London 11.59 
			 HEO Sandridge 11.66 
			 EO UKPA London 11.70 
			 HEO HO National 11.80 
			 Assist Statistician HO 12.00 
			 SO Scientific Officer Sandridge 12.08 
			 Research Offr National 12.09 
			 Assist Librarian HO Lon 12.24 
			 HEO-CRB 12.26 
			 PTO HO National 12.35 
			 HEO UKPA National 12.41 
			 Assist Information Off HO Lon 12.42 
			 Economic Assistant HO 12.43 
			 PTO Sandridge London 12.44 
			 Scientific Officer HO Lon 12.56 
			 HEO HO London 12.65 
			 PTO HO London 12.85 
			 Chief Immigration Off HO Nat 13.08 
			 HEO D HO 13.09 
			 EO Accountant HO London 13.11 
			 Scientific Officer S/D HO Nat 13.17 
			 HEO PIIA HO Nat 13.22 
			 Legal Officer L/S 13.49 
			 Chief Immigration Off HO Lon 13.57 
			 Higher Scientific Off Sandridge 13.75 
			 Preserved HEO G OTS (N) 13.85 
			 Info Officer HO Nat 13.87 
			 Infor Officer HO Lon 13.87 
			 Shadow HO HEO Lon 13.92 
			 Librarian HO London 13.94 
			 Higher Scientific Officer L/S 13.94 
			 HEO HO Gatwick 13.94 
			 HGR Scientific Off HO Nat 13.95 
			 Chief Immigration Off HO Gat 14.02 
			 HEO UKPA London 14.09 
			 Chief Typing Mgr HO Lon 14.48 
			 HGR Scient Off S/D RRA HO Lon 14.48 
			 PTO Elec/Tcom/Cons HO Lon 14.63 
			 HPTO HO National 14.72 
			 HSO PSDB National 14.78 
			 SEO UKPA National 14.78 
			 HPTO PSDB National 15.08 
			 HEO MIIA/CCAB HO Nat 15.20 
			 SEO HO National 15.22 
			 HEO Accountant HO Lon 15.27 
			 SEO CRB 15.31 
			 HEO MIA/CCAB IT HO Nat 15.33 
			 HPTO Sandridge London 15.33 
			 Shadow HO SEO Nat 15.44 
			 HPTO HO London 15.71 
			 HEO M11A/CCAB IT HO Lon 15.71 
			 SEO Sandridge 15.81 
			 HGR Scientific Off S/D HO Nat 15.97 
			 Immigration Inspec HO Nat 16.13 
			 SEO HO London 16.20 
			 Shadow HO SFCU Lon 16.30 
			 Senior Psychologist HO Lon 16.64 
			 Immigration Inspec HO Lon 16.85 
			 Senior Res Off HO Lon 16.89 
			 Hgr Scientific Off S/D Sandridge 16.97 
			 HPTO Elec/Tele/Const HO Lon 17.04 
			 Senior Scient Off Sandridge 17.07 
			 Senior Res Off HO Nat 17.10 
			 Senior Scientif Off HO Lon 17.18 
			 HEO M11 A/CCAB HO Lon 17.27 
			 SEO UKPA London 17.32 
			 Immigration Inspec HO Gat 17.42 
			 HEO (ACC) (NAT) UKPS 17.46 
			 SEO Accountant HO Nat 17.56 
			 Senior Information Off HO Lon 17.56 
			 Hgr Scientific Off S/D HO Lon 17.74 
			 Shadow HO SEO Nat 17.89 
			 Snr Prof and Tech Off Sandridge 17.96 
			 Senior Scientif Off HO Nat 18.00 
			 Senior Librarian HO Lon 18.11 
			 Shadow HO SEO Lon 18.16 
			 SPTO HO National 18.22 
			 SEO (ACC) (NAT) UKPS 18.30 
			 SEO-PD 18.32 
			 SEOMIIA/CCAB HO Nat 18.38 
			 Preserved SEO—E RHA 18.41 
			 SPTO HO London 18.47 
			 SEO PIIA HO Lon 18.48 
			 Senior Scientif Off S/D HO Lon 18.66 
			 SEO Accountant HO Lon 18.67 
			 HTTO Sandridge 18.78 
			 Senior Inf Officer Sandridge 18.78 
			 Senior Scientif Off S/D HO Nat 18.88 
			 SEO MIIA/CCAB HO Lon 19.34 
			 SEO MIIA/CCAB IT HO Lon 19.55 
			 SEO ACC CRB 19.73 
			 SPTO Elec/Tcom/Const HO Lon 19.96 
			 Grade 7 HO Gatwick 19.96 
			 Senior Scientific Off Sandridge 20.17 
			 Grade 7 UKPA National 20.48 
			 Grade 7 HO National 20.72 
			 Grade 7 CRB 20.87 
			 SPTO PSDB National 20.89 
			 GRADE 7 Sandridge London 21.64 
			 SEO Accountant UKPA London 21.66 
			 Grade 7 HO London 22.09 
			 Grade 7 Economist Lon HO 23.29 
			 G7 Economic Advisor Lon HO 23.49 
			 Grade 7 UKPA London 24.15 
			 Shadow HO Grade 7 Lon 25.09 
			 Shadow HO Grade 6 Lon 25.83 
			 Grade 6 CRB 26.47 
			 Grade 6 National 26.70 
			 Grade 6 UKPA National 27.02 
			 Grade 6 London 27.38 
			 Grades UKPA London 28.82 
			 Grade 6 Sandridge London 29.25 
			 Grade 6—PD 29.78 
			 Shadow HO Grade 6 Lon 32.28 
			 Senior CS (OS) Pay Band 32.58 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 1 33.66 
			 Supt Inspector (ASP) 35.13 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 1 37.97 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 1 39.45 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 2 47.52 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 3 53.25 
			 Chief Inspector PS 55.42 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 2 57.01 
			 H.M Insp Constab 70.91 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 3 71.33 
			 Permanent Secretary 82.46 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 3 83.61 
			 H.M Chief Insp Constab 98.91 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Home Office average 'national pay' rates by grade (non-permanent or contract staff) 
			  Grade description  Hourly average rate  (£) 
			 AA HO National 6.05 
			 Non Exec. DIR. 6.31 
			 Sandwich Course Student Lon 6.37 
			 AA HO London 6.43 
			 Sandwich Course Student Nat 6.49 
			 AO HO National 6.88 
			 CRB3 6.91 
			 Passport Offr 3 UKPA Nat 6.94 
			 Sandwich Course Student Sandri 6.95 
			 AO HO London 7.52 
			 SGB 1 HO National 7.69 
			 Passport Offr 1 UKPA Lon 7.99 
			 Personal Secretary HO Lon 8.42 
			 EO HO National 8.81 
			 Personal Secretary HO Nat 9.09 
			 EO HO London 9.59 
			 Asst Scientific Off Sandridge 10.11 
			 Research Offr National 10.64 
			 Assist Information Off HO Lon 11.35 
			 Research Offr London 11.64 
			 Economic Assistant HO 11.70 
			 HEO HO London 11.82 
			 Higher Scientific Officer L/S 13.49 
			 Senior Res Off HO Lon 15.08 
			 SEO HO National 15.18 
			 SEO HO London 16.66 
			 SEO Sandridge 17.50 
			 Senior CS (OS) Pay Band 18.73 
			 Grade 7 HO National 21.58 
			 Grade 7 HO London 23.27 
			 Grade 6 National 25.21 
			 Grade 6 London 29.66 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 1 41.36 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 2 43.42 
			 Senior CS Pay Band 1 46.72 
			 H.M Insp Constab 80.46

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review salary negotiations for public-sector employees in organisations within her Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer prices index to a point above 3 per cent.

Liam Byrne: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles.
	Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within Departments' overall expenditure plans; and consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular work force depends on pay-setting arrangements for that work force.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in her Department has been since 1997.

Liam Byrne: Since 1999, the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007-08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the "Ministerial Code".
	Information in respect of overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997 to 1999 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Deportation: EU Nationals

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many EU nationals were deported from the UK in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 20 June 2008
	Information prior to April 2006 is not available owing to known data quality issues. The UK Border Agency deported or removed over 4,200 foreign national prisoners in 2007, 525 of whom were European economic area nationals.

Deportation: Zimbabwe

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the deportation to Zimbabwe of  (a) members of the Movement for Democratic Change and  (b) those with strong links to the Movement for Democratic Change.

Liam Byrne: We have no current plans to enforce returns to Zimbabwe.

Driving Under Influence: Testing

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) breathalyser and  (b) drug tests were carried out on drivers in each police force in each of the last three calendar years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: Data held by the Ministry of Justice relate only to the number of screening breath tests taken for alcohol and the number positive or refused. The available information is given in the following table. Information is not collected centrally on subsequent evidential tests for alcohol.
	Tests for drug driving can only be taken using a device of a type approved by the Secretary of State. No type-approved devices are yet available. Figures are not collected centrally on the tests which police carry out for impairment which may be due to a drug. These tests do not involve the use of specialist equipment.
	
		
			  The number of screening breath tests by period and police force area, England and Wales 
			   Total number of tests 
			  Police force area  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 27,300 22,000 15,800 
			 Bedfordshire 7,800 6,700 3,100 
			 Cambridgeshire 12,300 12,500 12,500 
			 Cheshire 20,200 22,000 35,700 
			 Cleveland 8,100 10,800 11,300 
			 Cumbria 8,400 13,600 13,800 
			 Derbyshire 31,000 17,700 16,000 
			 Devon and Cornwall 10.700 10,400 13,600 
			 Dorset 7,000 7,900 8,700 
			 Durham 6,100 7,700 6,900 
			 Essex 25,300 34,200 28,400 
			 Gloucestershire 7,100 9,100 10,100 
			 Greater Manchester 19,900 18,900 18,100 
			 Hampshire 38,400 38,300 34,800 
			 Hertfordshire 7,300 11,900 12,700 
			 Humberside 5,600 5,700 10,000 
			 Kent 32,000 31,200 31,700 
			 Lancashire 10,200 13,000 16,400 
			 Leicestershire (1)15,800 14,400 10,000 
			 Lincolnshire 11,300 11,400 10,600 
			 London, City of 700 1,100 1,600 
			 Merseyside 5,000 8,000 10,600 
			 Metropolitan Police 61,500 67,500 65,000 
			 Norfolk 4,800 10,400 7,800 
			 Northamptonshire 3,200 5,200 4,300 
			 Northumbria 9,800 9,300 7,900 
			 North Yorkshire 8,600 9,300 10,100 
			 Nottinghamshire 8,200 7,900 7,200 
			 South Yorkshire 6,500 13,700 10,300 
			 Staffordshire 13,700 14,300 12,700 
			 Suffolk 10,600 8,900 9,100 
			 Surrey 9,500 9,600 8,300 
			 Sussex 15,200 18,000 18,700 
			 Thames Valley 15,400 14,600 13,500 
			 Warwickshire 5,500 4,800 4,500 
			 West Mercia 8,000 8,800 11,300 
			 West Midlands 6,600 6,900 6,200 
			 West Yorkshire 16,900 15,400 18,000 
			 Wiltshire 7,400 7,200 8,700 
			 Dyfed-Powys 6,700 6,900 7,300 
			 Gwent 1,600 2,000 1,700 
			 North Wales 24,200 21,800 19,600 
			 South Wales 16,700 16,300 17,100 
			 
			 Total 578,000 607,400 601,600 
			 (1) Revised since publication of 'Motoring Offences and Breath Test Statistics, England and Wales, 2004' bulletin.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas students have been granted visas to study in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) age,  (b) sex and  (c) nationality.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is set out in the following tables.
	Please note that it is not possible to break down the data for the financial year 2003-04.
	
		
			  Student visas issued 2003-04 
			   Number 
			 Total number of student visas issued in FY 2003-04 146538 
		
	
	
		
			  Student visas issued 2004-08, by age 
			   Financial Year  
			  Age  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Grand total 
			 Over 18 159,258 167,559 183,391 187,940 698,148 
			 Under 18 26,818 30,282 36,395 33,326 126,821 
			 Grand total 186,076 197,841 219,786 221,266 824,969 
		
	
	
		
			  Student visas issued 2004-08, by gender 
			   Financial Year  
			  Gender  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Grand  t otal 
			 Female 85,911 92,162 99,265 100,537 377,875 
			 Male 100,130 105,660 120,497 120,715 447,002 
			 Unknown 20 17 12 10 59 
			 Indeterminate 15 2 12 4 33 
			 Grand Total 186,076 197,841 219,786 221,266 824,969 
		
	
	
		
			  Student visas issued 2004-08, by nationality 
			   Financial Year  
			  Nationality  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Grand total 
			 Afghanistan 52 73 119 97 341 
			 Albania 278 319 482 522 1,601 
			 Algeria 309 266 434 497 1,506 
			 Andorra  1 5 3 9 
			 Angola 269 351 390 379 1,389 
			 Anguilla — — — 0 0 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 7 10 24 18 59 
			 Argentina 139 186 210 216 751 
			 Armenia 142 141 194 187 664 
			 Australia 764 757 771 877 3,169 
			 Austria — — — 1 1 
			 Azerbaijan 451 470 523 587 2,031 
			 Bahamas 39 75 101 84 299 
			 Bahrain 580 548 637 645 2,410 
			 Bangladesh 2,237 2,976 3,531 3,691 12,435 
			 Barbados 118 177 158 132 585 
			 Belarus 568 701 811 829 2,909 
			 Belgium — — — 1 1 
			 Belize 4 16 17 19 56 
			 Benin 31 36 39 26 132 
			 Bermuda — 1 1 — 2 
			 Bhutan 18 14 17 15 64 
			 Bolivia 91 123 138 90 442 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina 162 171 133 138 604 
			 Botswana 257 260 357 388 1,262 
			 Brazil 1,078 4,421 3,621 4,271 13,391 
			 British Citizen 4 2 1 1 8 
			 British Dependent Territories — 0 0 1 1 
			 British National Overseas 3,784 3,369 3,032 2,808 12,993 
			 British Overseas Citizen 2 6 6 5 19 
			 British Subject 1 0 0 — 1 
			 Brunei 405 541 659 907 2,512 
			 Bulgaria 682 644 653 1 1,980 
			 Burkina 17 18 17 11 63 
			 Burma (Myanmar) 287 348 318 407 1,360 
			 Burundi 11 3 9 10 33 
			 Cambodia 40 28 35 43 146 
			 Cameroon 455 426 437 590 1,908 
			 Canada 2,235 2,458 2,563 2,964 10,220 
			 Cape Verde 8 8 10 45 71 
			 Cayman Islands — 2 0 1 3 
			 Central African Republic 8 2 6 2 18 
			 Chad 12 7 11 14 44 
			 Chile 220 270 351 430 1,271 
			 China 21,489 18,449 21,408 25,186 86,532 
			 Colombia 2,673 2,782 3,367 4,660 13,482 
			 Comoros 4 5 1 1 11 
			 Congo 90 46 88 70 294 
			 Costa Rica 2 17 24 28 71 
			 Croatia 710 791 193 195 1,889 
			 Cuba 45 46 70 52 213 
			 Cyprus 52 53 20 17 142 
			 Czech Republic 1 1   2 
			 Democratic Rep of Congo 55 62 60 60 237 
			 Denmark — — — 0 0 
			 Djibouti 5 8 9 12 34 
			 Dominica 18 35 28 19 100 
			 Dominican Republic 33 31 43 42 149 
			 Ecuador 445 408 456 440 1749 
			 Egypt 570 536 1,300 1,159 3,565 
			 El Salvador 11 19 14 14 58 
			 Equatorial Guinea 16 10 20 31 77 
			 Eritrea 26 17 19 9 71 
			 Ethiopia 152 156 121 135 564 
			 Fiji 14 16 16 17 63 
			 Gabon 41 30 56 40 167 
			 Gambia 444 449 431 405 1729 
			 Georgia 569 540 655 742 2506 
			 Germany — 0 2 1 3 
			 Ghana 1,829 1,010 1,236 921 4,996 
			 Gibraltar — — — 0 0 
			 Greece — — — 2 2 
			 Grenada 21 40 47 27 135 
			 Guatemala 12 19 20 21 72 
			 Guinea 92 91 68 61 312 
			 Guinea-Bissau 12 10 17 14 53 
			 Guyana 74 87 91 75 327 
			 Haiti 15 13 15 9 52 
			 Honduras 4 10 8 17 39 
			 Hong Kong 2,077 2,058 2,329 2,572 9,036 
			 Hungary 1 1 — 0 2 
			 Iceland — 1 — 1 2 
			 India 17,591 19,891 22,129 23,293 82,904 
			 Indonesia 864 671 694 672 2,901 
			 Iran 1,303 1,654 2,064 2,316 7,337 
			 Iraq 130 255 320 447 1,152 
			 Ireland — 1 0 0 1 
			 Israel 813 1920 663 316 3,712 
			 Italy — — — 1 1 
			 Ivory Coast 213 103 159 131 606 
			 Jamaica 227 224 185 212 848 
			 Japan 8,750 8,559 8,053 6,486 31,848 
			 Jordan 898 904 1,005 974 3,781 
			 Kazakhstan 4,407 5,032 6,365 4,323 20,127 
			 Kenya 1,074 875 985 931 3,865 
			 Kiribati 1 1 1 — 3 
			 Korea (North) 10 6 3 3 22 
			 Kuwait 773 725 893 1,064 3,455 
			 Kyrgyzstan 220 302 382 269 1,173 
			 Laos 10 14 5 2 31 
			 Latvia 1 — — 1 2 
			 Lebanon 414 395 390 330 1,529 
			 Lesotho 10 11 21 10 52 
			 Liberia 8 9 9 13 39 
			 Libya 2,759 3,262 3,590 2,544 12,155 
			 Lithuania 1 — — 1 2 
			 Macau 40 77 90 108 315 
			 Macedonia 135 222 179 211 747 
			 Madagascar 28 28 27 25 108 
			 Malawi 315 501 399 554 1,769 
			 Malaysia 4,784 4,642 4,668 5,473 19,567 
			 Maldives 12 89 89 89 279 
			 Mali 30 15 31 41 117 
			 Mauritania 15 23 32 30 100 
			 Mauritius 1,353 1,552 1,146 907 4,958 
			 Mexico 1,120 1,276 1,344 1,574 5,314 
			 Moldova 209 216 184 115 724 
			 Monaco — 2 3 2 7 
			 Mongolia 185 208 321 931 1,645 
			 Morocco 594 416 439 367 1,816 
			 Mozambique 61 53 34 27 175 
			 Namibia 43 31 45 30 149 
			 Nauru — 0 0 0 0 
			 Nepal 428 621 927 1,095 3,071 
			 Netherlands — — — 1 1 
			 New Zealand 155 155 141 212 663 
			 Nicaragua 5 3 11 9 28 
			 Niger 14 16 19 11 60 
			 Nigeria 8,175 6,958 7,612 8,484 31,229 
			 None 8 8 1 4 21 
			 Norway — — 1 — 1 
			 Oman 1,177 1,023 1,227 1,161 4,588 
			 Pakistan 11,156 9,383 12,209 9,544 42,292 
			 Palestinian Authority 94 80 121 77 372 
			 Panama 7 24 23 35 89 
			 Papua New Guinea 13 11 6 3 33 
			 Paraguay 9 12 19 25 65 
			 Peru 401 405 473 437 1,716 
			 Philippines 1,708 1,272 907 2,050 5,937 
			 Pitcairn Islands — — — 0 0 
			 Poland 2 — 0 0 2 
			 Portugal 0 — — — 0 
			 Qatar 432 532 712 925 2,601 
			 Refugee (Art 1 1951 Convention) 17 12 10 7 46 
			 Romania 855 963 682 2 2,502 
			 Russia 10,338 14,014 22,368 20,947 67,667 
			 Rwanda 50 59 61 74 244 
			 San Marino 1 2 2 2 7 
			 Sao Tome And Principe 25 49 46 5 125 
			 Saudi Arabia 3,349 3,717 4,732 7,535 19,333 
			 Senegal 69 74 124 154 421 
			 Seychelles 1 — 2 2 5 
			 Sierra Leone 234 217 275 192 918 
			 Singapore 1,019 885 1,056 1,006 3,966 
			 Slovakia 2 0 1 — 3 
			 Solomon Islands 5 1 2 2 10 
			 Somalia 15 3 4 4 26 
			 South Africa 451 522 500 473 1946 
			 South Korea 7,447 8,332 7,071 6,577 29,427 
			 Soviet Union — — — 1 1 
			 Spain 1 0 0 — 1 
			 Sri Lanka 1,823 1,930 2,572 2,516 8,841 
			 St. Helena 0 — — — 0 
			 St. Kitts And Nevis 9 12 20 11 52 
			 St. Lucia 55 97 81 62 295 
			 St. Vincent 18 53 62 40 173 
			 Stateless (Art 1 1951 Convention) 59 41 37 28 165 
			 Sudan 585 651 430 398 2064 
			 Surinam 2 6 2 3 13 
			 Swaziland 38 31 18 21 108 
			 Sweden 0 — — 0 0 
			 Switzerland — 0 2 0 2 
			 Syria 668 772 877 615 2,932 
			 Taiwan 9,214 9,575 9,415 6,647 34,851 
			 Tajikistan 53 100 91 66 310 
			 Tanzania 786 932 1,100 926 3,744 
			 Thailand 4,875 5,095 5,042 4,325 19,337 
			 Togo 36 14 31 20 101 
			 Tonga — 6 3 5 14 
			 Trinidad And Tobago 381 439 468 483 1,771 
			 Tunisia 125 144 272 472 1,013 
			 Turkey 4,599 8,052 9,003 7,881 29,535 
			 Turkmenistan 290 432 203 171 1,096 
			 Turks And Caicos Islands — — — 1 1 
			 Tuvalu 0 1 — 0 1 
			 Uganda 859 592 527 566 2544 
			 Ukraine 1,678 1,370 1,717 1,738 6,503 
			 United Arab Emirates 1,310 1,080 1,120 1,270 4,780 
			 United Nations 4 2 2 11 19 
			 United States 8,815 8,950 9,258 11,800 38,823 
			 Unknown 97 117 116 89 419 
			 Unspecified Nationality 183 142 130 255 710 
			 Uruguay 13 17 22 27 79 
			 Uzbekistan 414 830 1359 865 3,468 
			 Vanuatu 1 — — 0 1 
			 Venezuela 125 378 519 785 1,807 
			 Vietnam 1,401 1,437 1,575 1,941 6,354 
			 Western Samoa 2 3 0 1 6 
			 Yemen 321 275 303 285 1,184 
			 Yugoslavia 1,510 1,460 1,149 1,112 5,231 
			 Zambia 512 474 456 571 2,013 
			 Zimbabwe 784 741 459 372 2,356 
			 Grand total 186,076 197,841 219,786 221,266 824,969 
			  Notes: 1. Data for FY 2003-04 is taken from published Entry Clearance Statistics 2. Data for April 2004 - March 2008 was taken from the Central Reference System on 2 July 2008 3.This data is provisional and unpublished and should be treated as such

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the  (a) number and  (b) average age on entry of gap year students entering the United Kingdom to work in the education sector.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 7 July 2008
	 Since 2005 the "Gap Year Entrant for Work in Schools" entry category has been in operation as a concessionary arrangement outside the immigration rules. It allows overseas students age 17-19 to take employment in a teaching/teaching assistant capacity in schools in the UK for 12 months prior to commencing their degree level studies overseas. The total number of visas issued in this category is as follows.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2005 794 
			 2006 807 
			 2007 803 
		
	
	While estimated future demand for visas is confined to broader entry categories (e.g. visitors, students, employment, settlement), the demand for gap year work visas has clearly been steady around 800 per year.
	It should be noted that some gap year students also enter under the Working Holiday Scheme for young Commonwealth citizens, and under the concession for voluntary workers outside the immigration rules. However, no data are available for these entrants as it is not possible to distinguish them from others entering in these categories.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to alter the visa requirements for gap year students entering the UK to work in the education sector; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 7 July 2008
	 All our existing youth mobility-type provisions, including the concession for Gap Year Entrants for Work in Schools, are to be abolished later this year when the new international Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) is launched under Tier 5 of the Points Based System (PBS). Details of the Youth Mobility Scheme are set out in the Statement of Intent for Tier 5 of the PBS, which was published on 8 May. Participants in the new scheme will be free to do most work of choice, including work in schools.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many students participating in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme did not return to their country of origin at the end of their placement under the scheme in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Since the phasing out of border controls in 1994, no Government have ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally. That includes students participating in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme who subsequently failed to return to their country of origin at the end of their placement. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately, and that remains the case.
	As part of the Government's 10-point plan for delivery, by Christmas 2008 the majority of foreign nationals will be counted in and out of the country. This will build on the successes of our early testing of the e-Borders programme (Project Semaphore) which already covers over 30 million passenger movements and has led to 18,000 alerts and more than 1,500 arrests.
	This is part of a sweeping programme of border protection which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, compulsory watch-list checks for all travellers from high-risk countries before they land in Britain, and ID cards for foreign nationals.
	On 19 June 2008, the Government set out their plan to more robustly enforce the immigration rules by developing and strengthening partnerships with the police, local authorities and enforcement agencies to shut down the privileges of the UK to those breaking the rules. Copies of the document are in the Library of the House. It is also available to view at.
	http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/?requestType=form& view=Search+results&simpleOrAdvanced=simple&page=1& contentType=AII&searchTerm=enforcing+the+deal&Submit=Go

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by her Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Liam Byrne: The Home Department inclusive of its agencies does not contract directly for food supplies but procures catering services through wider facilities management (FM) or operational service contractors. To obtain this information would incur disproportionate costs.
	When placing a contract with FM or operational services contractors sustainability factors are taken into consideration and specifications incorporate sustainability targets and appropriate terms and conditions with regard, to the procurement of food.

Immigrants: Tuberculosis

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which countries inbound passengers to the United Kingdom are tested for tuberculosis; and what percentage of passengers from each country were tested in the latest period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: All passengers who do not possess a valid pre-screening certificate for tuberculosis and are seeking leave to enter the UK for more than six months, and who have travelled from a country where the tuberculosis incidence rate is higher than 40 cases per 100,000 of the population, are referred to the Port Medical Inspector for tuberculosis screening. Around 135 countries currently have this incidence rate of tuberculosis and can be found at the World Health Organisation website:
	http://www.who.int/en/

Immigration Controls: France

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has given consideration to collaborating with the French Government in establishing and training a combined border and immigration force to be deployed at Brussels Midi, Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras International stations capable of checking passengers according to the criteria of both Governments, on a one-stop basis; and if she will estimate the financial effect of such an arrangement.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency works closely with French and Belgian authorities to promote mutual border security through the very effective border control arrangements at the juxtaposed controls. We have no plans to establish a body along the lines suggested. It is therefore not possible for us to provide an estimate of the financial effect of such an arrangement. This could be discovered only through the detailed examination of both the UK's and France's existing arrangements, which would involve a disproportionate cost to the business.

Immigration: Criminal Records

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many criminal record checks were carried out on  (a) EU foreign nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals seeking to enter the UK in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many criminal record checks were carried out on  (a) EU foreign nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals seeking to enter Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: From 1 July 2007, the UK Border Agency introduced the Home Office Warnings Index (HOWI) checking policy. This policy requires 100 per cent. checking of all documents against the HOWI. The HOWI comprises a watchlist of adverse information and intelligence drawn from various sources, including the police. The system is used by UK Border Agency staff for the purposes of national security and the detection and prevention of crime. It is long-standing policy not to discuss either the specific data held on the watchlist or the source of the data, as to do so would be counter-productive.
	When UK Border Agency staff require a passenger to submit to further examination, part of the officers' inquiries may include checking the passenger's details against the Police National Computer (PNC). For example, that may happen when there is evidence to suggest that the individual has previously committed a criminal offence, or there is evidence to suggest that the individual is currently engaged—or is likely to be engaged—in criminal activity.

Offenders: Deportation

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances EU citizens who have been deported may be prohibited from returning to the UK for a set period; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 26 June 2008
	A deportation order requires the subject to leave the United Kingdom, and prohibits re-entry to the UK unless or until it is revoked.

Official Visits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of her visit to the United States in February 2008.

Liam Byrne: Since 1999, the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the current financial year are being complied and will be published as soon as possible. The list for 2007-08 will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the "Ministerial Code".

Police: Dismissal

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with regard to how many police officers the incapability procedure was  (a) started and  (b) completed in each police force in each of the last five years; and how many consequent dismissals there were in each force in each year.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally in the police personnel statistics.

Ports: Medical Examinations

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were refused entry into the United Kingdom on the advice of port medical inspectors in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: A port medical inspector's opinion could be one of a range of factors that influence an immigration officer's decision to grant or refuse entry to the UK.
	The UK Border Agency does not collect statistics on the numbers of passengers who are refused leave to enter as a result of the advice of port medical inspectors.

UK Border Agency: Wales

Nick Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of the UK Border Agency will be based in  (a) Pembroke Dock and  (b) Fishguard when they become fully operational.

Liam Byrne: We cannot disclose information relating to the number of officers that we intend to deploy specifically at Pembroke Dock and Fishguard, as this information could prove of significant value to those seeking to circumvent our border controls. To release such information would impede our ability to prevent and detect immigration and customs offenders, thereby prejudicing the security of the UK border.

TRANSPORT

Northampton Rail Services

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to provide faster train services to and from Northampton.

Tom Harris: We are aware of the growing demand in the Northampton area. That is why we are considering using the proposed Intercity Express trains to serve Northampton. The new trains will have a top speed of 125 mph, compared with the 100 mph top speed of the trains currently used on these services.

City Region Funding

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding public transport in city regions outside the comprehensive spending review framework.

Rosie Winterton: All the Department's regular discussions with Her Majesty's Treasury take place in the context of decisions made in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Street Works Regulations

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make a statement on progress by local authorities in utilising the street works regulations which entered into force on 1 April 2008.

Rosie Winterton: Local authorities are now exercising their powers under the new regulations. The majority are using the new noticing system, and they have started giving fixed penalty notices for breaches of noticing requirements.
	Two proposed permit schemes have been subject to public consultation, including a London common permit scheme covering Transport for London and 15 London boroughs. We have just received a number of applications from London authorities to operate this scheme on their networks.

Driving Instructors

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps she has taken to protect learner drivers from sexual assault by driving instructors.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Prospective Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) must provide enhanced level criminal record checks. Existing ADIs must undergo such checks when re-registering.
	A driving instructor has Notifiable Occupation Status, so the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is informed of convictions.
	DSA is seeking a suitable parliamentary Bill to allow the suspension of ADIs.

London-South Wales Main Line

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will hold discussions with Network Rail to persuade it to speed up its work on the main line between London and South Wales.

Tom Harris: The Government are investing heavily in the Great Western Main Line, securing new trains and spending over £500 million on new platforms and lines to eliminate the bottleneck at Reading. The work must, however, be undertaken on a live railway in order to minimise inconvenience to passengers, which influences the pace at which work can proceed.

Stoke-on-Trent: Integrated Transport

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding her Department has provided for the development of integrated transport systems in the Stoke-on-Trent area in the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: In the nine years up to and including 2008-09, Stoke-on-Trent has received £40,822,000 in integrated transport block funding for capital investment. In the preceding year, 1999-2000, the authority received total funding of £4,529,000 including funds for road maintenance. It is for the authority to determine how far these funds should be spent on the development of integrated transport systems.

Concessionary Fares

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the national bus concessionary fares scheme.

Rosie Winterton: The Department conducted cost benefit assessments of both recent extensions to the statutory concessionary fares scheme. These acknowledged that significant benefits, such as improved social inclusion, could not be easily quantified. However, both assessments concluded that the investments could offer value for money, even before taking account of the non-monetised benefits.

Train Overcrowding

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her latest estimate is of levels of overcrowding on trains; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Figures from the Office of Rail Regulation show that passenger numbers grew by 7.8 per cent. over the year to December 2007. The Rail White Paper, which we published in July 2007, described how the Government intend to work with the industry to ensure that the network can cater for that growth. At the heart of our plans is the £10 billion that we have committed ourselves to spending enhancing rail capacity between 2009 and 2014.

Airport Security

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to improve security at airports.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The measures in the National Aviation Security Programme exist to safeguard passengers from terrorism. They need to be effective and proportionate to the evolving threat, and to minimise burdens on passengers and the industry.
	We keep these measures under constant review, in close co-operation with the industry. Lord West's review last year broadly supported the direction of travel and the pace of the work that we had in hand in this, as in other areas of transport security.
	We have however set in train two important initiatives. One is the planned Transport Security Bill. This will allow us to place airport security planning and policing on a necessary legislative footing and further strengthen the functioning of the overall security regime at airports.
	We have also commissioned an independent review into the current arrangements for personnel security in respect of applicants and existing staff in the transport industry, which includes aviation. This will report soon.

South Yorkshire Rail Services

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of rail services in South Yorkshire.

Tom Harris: Network Rail is responsible for determining the level of rail services required over the forthcoming 10-year period using its route utilisation strategy (RUS) process. The Yorkshire and Humberside RUS is currently under development and will identify changes to rail services that may be required in South Yorkshire over that period. The Department has, however, already procured a new service from Leeds to Nottingham, calling at Sheffield and Barnsley, to operate from December 2008.

Cycling

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding her Department has provided for  (a) local authorities and  (b) others to support the provision of training for cyclists in the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: To date, we have made around £4.3 million available to local authorities to fund Bikeability, the new national standard for cycle training. This includes £150,000 to pilot the new standard in 2006-07, £1.2 million in 2007-08 and £3.1 million in this financial year. In addition, we have made around £1.5 million available to the School Sports Partnerships to increase Bikeability training in schools over the same period. We will also be providing funding amounting to around £400,000 to enable British cycling coaches to deliver Bikeability training this year.
	We have also invested around £1 million between 2005-06 and 2007-08 via a grant to the Cycling Tourist Club to build capacity in the cycle training sector.

Cycling

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress her Department has made on encouraging more people to cycle in towns and cities.

Rosie Winterton: We announced on 19 June a package of almost £100 million to support 12 new Cycling Demonstration Towns including the first large Demonstration City, Bristol. Half this funding is coming from the local authorities themselves, which is an encouraging demonstration of the level of support for cycling. They have joined the existing six, so there is now a demonstration place in every region, which will assist in the sharing of experience in increasing cycling levels through events such as regional workshops.

Departmental Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by her Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The amount spent on food, where recorded, for the last five financial years is tabled as follows:
	
		
			   Total spend (£) 
			 2003-04(1) 189,144 
			 2004-05(1) 177,029 
			 2005-06(2) 791,000 
			 2006-07(3) 883,546 
			 2007-08(2) 789,864 
			 (1) Aggregate spend at: Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Driving Standards Agency and Maritime and Coastguard Agency.  (2) Aggregate spend at: Department for Transport London headquarters buildings, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Driving Standards Agency, Government Car and Despatch Agency and Maritime and Coastguard Agency.  (3) Aggregate spend at: Department for Transport London headquarters buildings, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Driving Standards Agency, Government Car and Despatch Agency and Maritime and Coastguard Agency. 
		
	
	Changes to local recording arrangements mean that data are not consistently available for all years requested, as noted in the table.
	At departmental level, 48.5 per cent. of spend on food is estimated to be of British origin while 70 per cent. of food expenditure at our main London headquarters building is estimated to be of British origin.

Departmental Information Communications Technology

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value of her Department's computer systems  (a) was at the time of purchase and  (b) is now.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Departments and the agencies compile their accounts in line with Financial Reporting Manual (FReM).
	The value at the time of purchase for all IT systems is not easily accessible as all IT systems are not capitalised if they are below the threshold set by each entity. Collection of all these costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All IT systems that are capitalised are shown as follows. These costs are as at 31 March 2008 as per the draft annual accounts of each entity.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Entity  Cost at time of purchase  Net book value as at 31 March 2008 
			 DFT (c) 51,684 13,161 
			 VOSA (1)35,100 (1)8,200 
			 HA 124,735 40,884 
			 GCDA 143 78 
			 MCA 7,487 2,132 
			 VCA 1,146 421 
			 DSA 26,212 13,476 
			 DVLA (1)195,100 (1)61,400 
			 (1) Includes hardware and software.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department takes to ensure which registered car owners pay vehicle excise duty.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) operates a comprehensive package of measures to ensure that vehicle excise duty is convenient to pay but very hard to avoid.
	There are a variety of ways to license a vehicle, with online and telephone services now being used by a large and growing number of vehicle keepers. Those who fail to license their vehicles are subject to enforcement measures ranging from automated penalties from the vehicle record to direct enforcement action such as the wheel clamping, impounding and, ultimately, disposal of the unlicensed vehicle.
	The most recent statistics estimate that the DVLA was successful in collecting 98.5 per cent. of all vehicle excise duty payable in 2007-08, demonstrating that this approach is proving effective.

Motor Vehicles: Testing

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicle or public service vehicle operators  (a) have and  (b) do not have the necessary facilities to carry out MOT tests.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A number of organisations have sought approval for facilities which can be used to carry out public service vehicle (PSV) and heavy goods vehicle (HGV) annual tests. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has authorised around 210 such facilities. Tests at these sites are carried out by civil servants from VOSA and the network includes sites that cater for both HGV and PSV annual tests or either type individually. These authorised premises are owned by either operators or commercial organisations carrying out maintenance, and some organisations will have more than one facility that is authorised to carry out tests.
	VOSA does not hold data on how many operators may have the appropriate facilities to conduct HGV and/or PSV annual tests but have not sought authorisation. However, tests can be carried out only at sites which have been authorised.

Transport: Consultants

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what allocation  (a) her Department and  (b) the Highways Agency has made for consultancy fees in relation to (i) roads, (ii) railways and (iii) other matters in its budget for 2008-09.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport, including agencies other than the Highways Agency, has made budget allocations for expenditure on consultancy and professional services in 2008-09 as follows:
	
		
			   £000 
			 Roads 16,335 
			 Railways 16,260 
			 Other Matters 23,894 
		
	
	'Roads' includes road pricing and road vehicle safety and standards. 'Railways' includes Crossrail, LCR, Metronet and various aspects of the railways industry. 'Other Matters' includes all the transport Executive agencies, except the Highways Agency, together with the shared services project and other organisational consultancies.
	The Highways Agency has no specific allocation within its budget for consultancy fees, but anticipates spending £2,000,000 during 2008-09 on administrative consultancies.

Transport: Voluntary Organisations

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to enable community transport groups to extend the services that they offer.

Rosie Winterton: The Local Transport Bill, currently awaiting its Report stage, contains provisions that would create opportunities for community transport groups to extend their services by allowing greater flexibility over the size of vehicle used and removing the restriction on paying drivers on community bus services.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Annual Leave

Lynne Jones: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many years' service with the House is required for officers of the House to receive 40 days' paid leave; and how many people received  (a) 40 days,  (b) 35 to 39 days,  (c) 30 to 34 and  (d) 28 days' paid leave pro rata in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: Leave entitlements for staff of the House are set out in the Staff Handbook, which is available on the parliamentary intranet. In summary, most staff receive 28 days' paid leave per annum on appointment, rising to 40 days after 11 years' service. Staff appointed to the senior commons structure (SCS) receive 40 days' annual leave on appointment. For the current leave year (1 November 2007 to 31 October 2008), the leave entitlements for individual staff in post on 1 November 2007, including part-timers, are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Leave due (pro-rata for part-time staff)  Officers of the House (staff at SCS and pay band A)  Other pay bands  Total individuals 
			 40 days 179 484 663 
			 35-39 60 313 373 
			 30-34 70 441 511 
			 28 42 356 398 
			 Total 351 1,594 (1)1,945 
			 (1) This figure includes all part-time and casual staff—the number of permanent full-time equivalent staff at 1 November 2007 was 1,707.

Security

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many parliamentary identity cards or passes have been reported lost or stolen in the last 24 months.

Nick Harvey: The number of parliamentary photo-identity passes that have been reported stolen to the police over the past 24 months is 31.
	Exact figures for the number lost over the same period are not available, but over the past nine years a total of 313 passes have been reported lost.

OLYMPICS

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Olympics to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels her Office subscribes; and at what yearly cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Tessa Jowell: My private office does not hold an individual subscription to any premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels.

Olympic Games 2012: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many firms based in Northern Ireland have made unsuccessful bids for contracts through the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Tessa Jowell: To date, five businesses registered in Northern Ireland have responded to Invitations to Tender for Olympic Delivery Authority contracts above the  Official Journal of the European Union threshold (according to EU legislation, all contracts from the public sector which are valued above a certain threshold must be published in the  Official Journal of the European Union). Of these, three businesses have not been awarded contracts, and two are currently involved in live tenders.
	For contracts below the OJEU threshold, six Northern Ireland businesses are at the Invitation to Tender stage in live procurements.
	The London 2012 Business Network has been developed to open up opportunities in the London 2012 supply chains to businesses across the UK. Businesses in every constituency should be encouraged to sign up and get the support they need to compete for and win London 2012-related business.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the BBC Trust on  (a) the application of the public value tests to the BBC's proposals for (i) local video news services and (ii) education sites and  (b) the preparation of market input assessments of such proposals.

Andy Burnham: I have had no such discussions. This is a matter for the BBC Trust and there is no provision for Government to intervene.

BBC: Internet

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect on the market for advertising on UK-based news websites of the sale of advertising on bbc.com.

Andy Burnham: I have not made any such assessment. This is a matter for the BBC Trust and there is no provision for Government to intervene.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what IT contracts his Departments and its agency have entered into in the last two years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has entered into one IT contract with Atos Origin for covering ICT services for seven years, signed in December 2007, with a value of approximately £40 million.
	Since 1 July 2006, the Royal Parks Agency has entered into seven contracts with Atkins and one with OGC Buying Solutions/Global Crossing and these are detailed as follows:
	1. Contract with Atkins for IT Disaster Recovery implementation, let February 2007, for one year, at a cost of £44,000
	2. Contract with Atkins for IT Strategy and Governance Development, let April 2007, for three months, at a cost of £35,000
	3. Contract with Atkins for ICT Programme implementation—stage 1, let April 2007, for two months, at a cost of £100,000
	4. Contract with Atkins for ICT Programme implementation—stage 2, let August 2007, for four months, at a cost of £219,000
	5. Contract with Atkins for ICT Programme implementation—stage 3, let January 2008, for one year, at a cost of £721,000
	6. Contract with Atkins for IT support services, let May 2007, for one year, at a cost of £7,000
	7. Contract with Atkins for IT support services, let May 2008, for one year, at a cost of £7,000
	8. Contract with OGC Buying Solutions and Global Crossing for a managed data communications service, let February 2007, for three years, at a cost of £218,000
	 Note:
	All costs exclude VAT.

Departmental NDPBs

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 856-58W, on departmental non-departmental public bodies, if he will publish each of the funding agreements so far agreed with his Department's non-departmental public bodies.

Andy Burnham: The funding agreements that have so far been agreed between DCMS and its NDPBs are listed as follows. These have been placed on the publications section of the Department's website at: www.culture. gov.uk/1205.aspx Others will be added as they are finalised.
	
		
			  Name of NDPB  Period of funding agreement 
			 British Library 2008-11 
			 British Museum 2008-11 
			 Culture East Midlands 2008-09 
			 Culture North East 2008-09 
			 Culture North West 2008-09 
			 Culture South West 2008-09 
			 Football Licensing Authority 2008-11 
			 Gambling Commission 2008-11 
			 Geffrye Museum 2008-11 
			 Horniman Museum 2008-11 
			 Imperial War Museum 2008-11 
			 Living East 2008-09 
			 Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester 2008-11 
			 National Gallery 2008-11 
			 National Maritime Museum 2008-11 
			 National Museums Liverpool 2008-11 
			 National Portrait Gallery 2008-11 
			 Natural History Museum 2008-11 
			 Public Lending Right 2008-11 
			 Royal Armouries 2008-11 
			 Sir John Soane's Museum 2008-11 
			 Tate Gallery 2008-11 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum 2008-11 
			 Visit Britain 2008-09 
			 Yorkshire Culture 2008-09

Digital Broadcasting

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what evidence was submitted to his Department to inform the Digital Working Group interim report published in June 2008.

Andy Burnham: None. The Digital Radio Working Group is an independent body which sought and took account of a wide range of information in developing its interim report. I look forward to seeing its final report by the end of the year.

Digital Broadcasting

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of  (a) the DAB+ system,  (b) the DMB system and  (c) the DVB-H system of digital radio transmission.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 7 July 2008
	As part of its remit, the independent Digital Radio Working Group which we have established has considered these and other technologies.
	The Group's interim report, published on 23 June, concluded that DAB is the most practical route to digital migration in the UK, but that the aim should be for all future radio receivers to be capable of receiving analogue, DAB and other variants of the Eureka 147 family. I look forward to seeing the final report towards the end of the year.

Digital Broadcasting

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has made at EU level on harmonisation in digital radio technology.

Andy Burnham: I have made no such representations. However, my officials have discussed the need for harmonised digital technology informally with the Commission and member states. We have recently raised the issue in the EU Communications Committee Broadcasting Issues Sub Group and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Ofcom have jointly written to WorldDMB, the organisation responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of Eureka 147 technologies, which has agreed to take forward the question of harmonised receiver profiles. This is in line with the interim recommendations of the Digital Radio Working Group.

Sports: Handguns

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in what circumstances people can practise in the UK for international pistol tournaments; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Firearms (Amendments) Act 1997 prohibited the possession of handguns in England and Wales, and Scotland without the specific authority of the Home Secretary or the Scottish Ministers. It does not prohibit the possession of handguns in Northern Ireland.
	The Home Secretary has agreed to use her powers under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 to allow a small squad of elite GB Olympic pistol shooters to train in this county ahead of the Olympics in 2012. Scottish Ministers have agreed, in principle, to exercise their powers in a similar manner in relation to Scotland. In Northern Ireland, pistol shooters are free to practise their sport provided that they have the appropriate firearm certificate from the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
	The Home Secretary will also use her powers under section 5 to ensure arrangements are in place to allow competitors and officials at the Olympic games in London in 2012 to possess their special competition pistols for the duration of the games and for any special warm- up events.

Television: Hearing Impairment

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had on the implementation of requirements for subtitling of digital and satellite television services.

Andy Burnham: I have had no such discussions. The Communications Act 2003 sets minimum targets for the signing, subtitling and audio description of programmes by licensees, including digital and satellite television services. However, it is the responsibility of Ofcom to ensure that broadcasters meet the requirements contained in their Code on Television Access Services.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of British military engagement in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Iraq was in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08;

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department of operations in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan was in each year since 2001.

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the additional expenditure from the Defence Budget required for military operations and equipment in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan in each year from 2001-02 to 2008-09 which was additional to original allocations under those headings; how much has been allocated from the contingency reserve to fund such expenditure in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The MOD does not make provision for the net additional cost of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is recovered from the Treasury Reserve. Between 2001-02 and 2006-07 the costs for these operations were:
	
		
			  Iraq 
			  £ million 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-44  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  Total 
			 Operations in Iraq — 629 1,051 747 798 787 4,012 
			 Expenditure on capital equipment — 218 260 163 160 169 970 
			 Total — 847 1,311 910 958 956 4,982 
		
	
	
		
			  Afghanistan 
			  £ million 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  Total 
			 Operations in Afghanistan (near cash) 187 236 36 58 148 560 1,225 
			 Expenditure on capital equipment 34 75 10 9 51 178 357 
			 Total 221 311 46 67 199 738 1,582 
		
	
	We have requested a total of an additional £3,374 million from the Treasury Reserve in the Winter and Spring Supplementary Estimates to cover the net additional costs of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2007-08.
	Audited outturn figures will be published in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts towards the end of July.
	My right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in his Budget speech that the estimated cost of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan would be at least £2 billion in 2008-09.

Armed Forces: Council Tax Benefit

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on council tax rebate for service personnel during the last six-month roulement.

Derek Twigg: The amount spent on council tax rebate claims for the two major roulements, Iraq and Afghanistan, completed during the last six months, was £87,599.

Armed Forces: Social Security Benefits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance is given to family liaison officers on the provision of advice to service families on their benefit entitlements; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The payment of benefits remains a matter for the responsible Government Department or local authority, most often Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or the Department for Work and Pensions. There are detailed rules covering eligibility for benefits, and advice on them is best provided by the relevant Departments, and authorities and their agencies. The Ministry of Defence works with these responsible bodies to ensure that their websites and guidance take into account the specific circumstances of Service personnel and their families.
	Welfare support staff are instructed to refer families with specific queries, including benefits questions, to the most appropriate organisation to respond. This guidance given via specialist Ministry of Defence support staff and websites (such as the Service Community area of the Ministry of Defence website) is given to address certain aspects of benefits entitlement that are affected by Service life, such as moves overseas, although detailed advice should always be sought from the relevant department or agency. The Ministry of Defence also provides a worldwide information service (HIVE) which provides key information and signposting on the full range of Service community issues, including benefits.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1519W, on armed forces training, how many of his Department's Fighting in Built-Up Areas training facilities were designed to replicate Afghan compounds.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 675W.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1519W, on armed forces training, whether further Fighting in Built-Up Areas training facilities other than those listed are  (a) under construction and  (b) planned.

Bob Ainsworth: There are facilities under construction on Salisbury Plain related to fighting in built-up areas (FIBUA) which will enhance the training facility.
	Additional FIBUAs are planned for the Stanford training area in Norfolk and the Sennelager training area in Germany, both of which are at the planning application stage. The latter is also currently at the environmental appraisal stage.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1519W, on armed forces training, in what year each of the Fighting in Built-Up Areas training facilities was constructed.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the year in which each fighting in built up areas (FIBUA) was either constructed or adopted as a FIBUA training facility.
	
		
			  Name  Location  County  Year of build 
			 Edingham FIBUA Site Dalbeattie Dumfries 1940 
			 Caerwent Chepstow Glamorgan 1940 
			 Eastmere Village Stanford TA Norfolk 1982 
			 Copehill Down Salisbury Plain Wiltshire 1989 
			 Cilieni Village Sennybridge Powys 1991 
			 Rype Village Lydd Kent Ex Married Quarters, adopted in 1964 
			 Whinney Hill Catterick North Yorkshire Ex Married Quarters, adopted mid 1980's 
			 Longmoor Urban Training Complex Longmoor Hampshire Ex Married Quarters, adopted mid 1980's

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of  (a) armoured vehicles,  (b) other vehicles,  (c) fixed-wing aircraft,  (d) rotary-wing aircraft,  (e) weapons systems and  (f) unmanned aerial vehicles of each type were (i) in service, (ii) fit for purpose and (iii) out of service at the latest date for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the  (a) fewest,  (b) most and  (c) mean number of days taken to up-armour each Cougar vehicle to a finished Mastiff were in Mastiff tranche 1 after arrival in the UK; and what were the (i) fewest, (ii) most and (iii) mean number of days taken between completion of up-armouring and arrival at UK port of embarkation.

Bob Ainsworth: The average time to upgrade the Cougar vehicle to a Mastiff for tranche 1 (including the up-armouring) was seven days. It is not possible to break-out the time spent specifically on up-armouring, as this work was conducted at the same time as other elements of the upgrade.
	Once vehicles had been upgraded, they were moved to the UK embarkation point within 24 hours.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Sales

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what control his Department has over who the ultimate owners are of armoured personnel carriers being sold by his Department to Witham (Specialist Vehicles) Ltd;
	(2)  how many decommissioned armoured personnel carriers have been sold abroad in each year since 2006;
	(3)  how many Saxon armoured personnel carriers have been sold by his Department to Witham (Specialist Vehicles) Ltd.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department does not sell armoured personnel carriers to Witham (Specialist Vehicles) Ltd. The company acts as the selling agent for surplus MOD vehicles under the terms of an incentive-based contract. The receipts from sale are shared in an agreed proportion between the company and the Department.
	All surplus equipment sold into the commercial marketplace is demilitarised and declassified. In that event, when vehicles are purchased from Witham to be exported outside the United Kingdom, purchasers are obliged to comply with normal UK export licence regulations. The Department has no control over the ultimate owner of the vehicles.
	Between 1 January 2006 and 3 July 2008, 44 Saxon vehicles were sold on behalf of the Department. The Department does not hold information on which of those vehicles purchased to date remain within the United Kingdom and which have been exported.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Sales

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department is selling armoured personnel carriers.

Bob Ainsworth: The Saxon General War Role (Saxon GWR) is being removed from service and sold because it no longer meets the requirements of the Army, and has been declared obsolete.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign military delegations visited the Defence Export Services Organisation between  (a) 1 August 2005 and 31 July 2006 and  (b) 1 August 2006 and 31 July 2007; and how many such delegations have visited UK Trade and Investment since 1 August 2007.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	From 1 August 2005 and 31 July 2006, 194 foreign delegations visited the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) to attend two major defence exhibitions, one in September 2005 and one in July 2006, and two Multi- Nation Inward Missions (MNIM), which enable potential foreign customers to witness demonstrations of defence equipment and visit UK defence establishments. Most delegations will have included military personnel. From 1 August 2006 and 31 July 2007, 18 foreign delegations visited DESO on MNIM. There was no major defence exhibition during that time.
	Since 1 August 2007, 74 foreign delegations have visited DESO and its successor organisation (from 1 April 2008), the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO).
	Information on other visits to DESO and UKTI DSO, taken from available records, is shown as follows:
	
		
			   Number of countries 
			 1 August 2005-31 July 2006 85 
			 1 August 2006-31 July 2007 68 
			 Since 1 August 2007 40

Departmental Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost to his Department was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08.

Derek Twigg: MOD press office employs 10 information officers who are full-time press officers with no managerial responsibility. The median annual salary (not including national insurance contributions or superannuation) for an information officer is £28,989 as at 3 July 2008.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times  (a) Harrier GR7,  (b) Harrier GR9,  (c) Tornado GR4,  (d) Tornado F3,  (e) Typhoon and  (f) Nimrod aircraft have been cannibalised in each year since 2003.

Bob Ainsworth: The removal of serviceable parts from one aircraft for use on another is a short-term, temporary measure to ensure that the maximum numbers of aircraft are available to the front line.
	The number of these instances in each year since 2003 for the fleets requested is given in the following table. Harrier GR7 and Harrier GR9 cannibalisation statistics are not recorded separately, therefore the Harrier statistics are combined for both GR7 and GR9 marks. Typhoon cannibalisation statistics were not produced prior to 2005 due to operating under an industrial partnering agreement.
	
		
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Harrier GR7and 9 1,119 958 530 505 862 
			 Tornado GR4 3,009 2,558 1,863 2,048 1,838 
			 Tornado F3 n./a n/a 872 667 667 
			 Typhoon n/a n/a 243 542 540 
			 Nimrod MR2 582 482 510 224 344 
			 Nimrod R1 41 29 48 61 41 
		
	
	For Tornado F3, statistics are not available for RAF Leeming and RAF Coningsby in 2003 and 2004. No statistics are available in any year for the four aircraft Tornado F3 fleet based at RAF Mount Pleasant, therefore these have been excluded.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Agusta 109A,  (b) Agusta 109AM,  (c) Apache Ah Mk1,  (d) Gazelle AH1,  (e) Lynx Mk7,  (f) Lynx Mk9,  (g) Lynx Mk3,  (h) Lynx Mk8,  (i) Merlin Mk1,  (j) Sea King Mk4,  (k) Sea King Mk5,  (l) Sea King Mk6 (CR),  (m) Sea King Mk7,  (n) Chinook Mk2,  (o) Chinook Mk2a,  (p) Merlin Mk3,  (q) Puma HC1,  (r) Sea King Mk3 and  (s) Sea King Mk3a there are in the helicopter fleet.

Bob Ainsworth: The numbers and types of helicopters currently in the helicopter fleet are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Helicopter type  Number 
			 Agusta 109 4 
			 Apache AH Mk1 67 
			 Gazelle AH1 55 
			 Lynx Mk 7/9 96 
			 Lynx Mk 3/8 63 
			 Merlin Mk1 42 
			 Sea King Mk4/6C 42 
			 Sea King Mk 5 15 
			 Sea King Mk 7 13 
			 Chinook Mk2/2a 40 
			 Merlin Mk3 22 
			 Puma HC1 38 
			 Sea King Mk3/3a 25 
		
	
	The helicopter fleet has been taken to mean all aircraft in the Forward Fleet (at Front Line Commands for operational use and training) plus the Depth Fleet (including aircraft undergoing major maintenance, repair, modifications and trials). It excludes aircraft declared surplus and currently awaiting disposal.

RAF Lakenheath

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the United States withdrew from RAF Lakenheath the last of its nuclear weapons stored there.

Des Browne: It is both UK and NATO policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at a given location.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he gave to purchasing off-the-shelf alternatives before commissioning the Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle.

Bob Ainsworth: Off-the-shelf alternatives were assessed during the Watchkeeper programme competition and system selection process, but they did not meet the capability requirements and were therefore discounted.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department procured the Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle; what consideration was given to procuring off-the-shelf alternatives; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Watchkeeper was procured to provide operational commanders with a day/night, all- weather capability to detect and track targets without the need to deploy troops in potentially sensitive or dangerous areas. Off-the-shelf alternatives were assessed at the time of competition, but did not meet the capability requirements and were therefore discounted.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Biodiversity

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to encourage farmers to grow fruit and vegetables not traditionally grown in the UK.

Jonathan R Shaw: Our policy is to encourage a thriving and market-focused domestic farming sector, while improving net environmental impact. In this context, if there is a market demand for fruit and vegetables not traditionally grown in the UK which can be met by sustainable production in the UK, we would welcome farmers exploring that kind of diversification.

Agriculture: Young People

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2008,  Official Report, column 531W, on Agriculture: Young People, for what reason no further commitments of funding have been made; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 1 July 2008
	I responded to a written answer on 13 June 22008,  Official Report, column 531W, to the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper), on agriculture. I have since been advised that, in addition to the periods and amounts previously stated, funding of £51,500 for the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs has been committed for the period 2008-09.
	Funding for the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs is allocated on a yearly basis.

Animals: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to offer direct support to farmers who are able to prove that they have good on-farm biosecurity.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government are currently running the 'Give Disease the Boot' campaign, which provides livestock owners and veterinarians with information on a range of diseases and how best to protect the health of their animals and the health of the farming industry.
	DEFRA has produced information promoting the need for vigilance, and providing guidance about how to spot disease and prevent its introduction and spread. This is available on the DEFRA website.
	Leaflets offering biosecurity advice to animal keepers are being distributed by DEFRA at the Livestock Markets Roadshow, which is touring 80 towns in England during 2008. Key messages promoting biosecurity and vigilance are also featured in publications such as  Farming Link.
	During exotic disease outbreaks, tighter biosecurity requirements apply, and rules are notified to the people affected by them.

Arable Farming

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the financial position of arable crop farming in the East of England.

Jonathan R Shaw: Data on farm business incomes are provided by the annual Farm Business Survey. For non-corporate businesses, farm business income represents the financial return to all unpaid labour (farmers and spouses, non-principal partners and their spouses and family workers) and on all their capital invested in the farm business, including land and buildings. For corporate businesses, it represents the financial return on the shareholders' capital invested in the farm business.
	Average farm business income for cereals and general cropping farms was estimated at £78,000 and £74,000 respectively in the East of England Government Office region in 2006-07 (i.e. for 2006 harvest), compared to £66,000 for all farm types in the same region. For England as a whole, average farm business income for cereals and general cropping farms was estimated at £56,000 and £66,000 respectively in 2006-07, compared to £38,000 for all farm types.
	Comparisons of these figures with figures for previous years are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Average farm business income 
			  £ per farm 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  East of England Government office region 
			 Cereals 80,923 47,806 48,864 78,019 
			 General cropping 90,101 72,936 48,570 74,450 
			 All farm types 67,141 51,439 51,240 66,105 
			  
			  England 
			 Cereals 53,131 35,256 32,905 56,277 
			 General cropping 65,872 46,229 37,346 65,788 
			 All farm types 38,590 30,205 30,915 37,839 
		
	
	In 2007-08 (2007 harvest), incomes on cereals and general cropping farms are expected to have increased quite markedly, particularly on cereal farms. At the England level, income on cereal farms is expected to have risen by 45 per cent. and on general cropping farms by 27 per cent. These increases are due primarily to higher output prices compared to those of the 2006 harvest.

Cooperative Wholesale Society: Leicestershire

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates meetings have taken place between Ministers and officials from his Department and representatives of the Cooperative Wholesale Society since 1 May 2005 on the development of the Cooperative Wholesale Society's land in the Harborough district; where each meeting took place; and who attended each.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 7 July 2008
	 We have no record of meetings between DEFRA Ministers or officials and representatives of the Cooperative Wholesale Society since 1 May 2005 about the development of its land in the Harborough district.

Deca-BDE

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what representations his Department has received on the use of Deca-BDE from  (a) the Bromine Science and Environmental Forum,  (b) Albemarle Corporation,  (c) Chemtura,  (d) ISDL,  (e) Tosoh Corporation,  (f) the European Flame Retardants Association and  (g) the European Chemical Industry Council;
	(2)  whether his Department has undertaken studies of environmentally friendly flame-retardants which do not include Deca-BDE.

Phil Woolas: Decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE) is a flame retardant used primarily in plastics and textiles applications. Over an extended period it has been subject to Risk Assessment action under the EU Existing Substances Regulation; the UK (the Environment Agency) was the rapporteur for the environmental elements of the risk assessment and France was the rapporteur for the human health aspects. As rapporteur the UK has received representations from a wide range of interested parties, including individual companies, industry associations, and NGOs. Contact was also necessary to gather the information needed to carry out the risk assessment.
	The conclusion of the risk assessment is that while deca-BDE is very persistent in the environment, it is not on present evidence bioaccumulative, and it is not toxic. As a result it does not meet the criteria for formal risk reduction activity under the Existing Substances Regulation. However, because of its persistence and widespread presence in the environment the manufacturing industry, with encouragement from the Government, has instigated a voluntary initiative known as the Voluntary Emissions Control and reduction Action Programme (VECAP). New codes of good practice for sustainable use of deca-BDE in the plastics and textile industries have been issued by the manufacturing industry. The aim of the codes of practice is to ensure improved control of emissions.
	A number of other flame retardants have been evaluated under the Existing Substances Regulation. In addition, in 2003 the Environment Agency commissioned a report on the Prioritisation of Flame Retardants for Environmental Risk Assessment. The aim of the study was to assess the use of and risks associated with flame retardants, and in particular to identify substances that might require detailed consideration in terms of their possible impact on the environment. It also considered issues concerning substitution of flame retardants. The study noted that little was known about the effects of many of the substances, including those sometimes proposed for use as substitutes.

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs over what period his Department depreciates the asset value of its  (a) vehicles,  (b) computer hardware,  (c) bespoke computer software,  (d) standard computer software,  (e) furniture and  (f) telecommunications equipment.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA depreciates its assets over periods consistent with the accounting standards laid out in the Financial Reporting Manual.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The leases held by DEFRA and the principal associated public bodies that are due for renewal in the next four years are set out in the following schedule.
	
		
			  Property number  Site name 
			  DEFRA  
			 68 Newlyn—North Pier—Store 6 
			 84 Nympsfield Badger Research Unit 
			 96 Lowestoft—North Quay—Ground Lease 
			 108 Brixham New Fish Quay—Store 6 
			 114 Amble—Warkworth Harbour—Commissioners Offices 
			 122 Nottingham—Chalfont Drive—Block7 
			 124 Preston—Government Buildings—Cop Lane 
			 125 Shrewsbury—Whitehall—Monkmoor Road 
			 127 Wolverhampton—Woodthorne 
			 147 Lewes—Medwyn House 
			 164 Huntingdon—Chequers Court 
			 167 Kirton—Middlecott House 
			 182 Leeds—Government Buildgs—Otley Road—Wings 1-7—11 and 14 
			 189 Skipton Foundry House 
			 218 Bristol—Bristol Fruit Centre 
			 231 Leyton—14/19 Allen House 
			 262 Hartlepool—103 Northgate 
			 264 Scarborough—West Pier—19 
			 264 Scarborough—West Pier—20 
			 264 Scarborough—West Pier—Baiting Shed 28 
			 275 Ashford—Olantigh Road—Wye 
			 504 Hastings Rock A Nore Road 
			 507 Northallerton Standard Way Unit 3 
			 515 Dover Eastern Docks Freight Services Building 
			 517 Bakewell—Lumford Mill 10-13 
			 517 Bakewell—Lumford Mill—Offices 14/15 
			 520 Plymouth Fisheries Office 
			 529 Northampton Beaumont House 
			 532 Coventry Copthall House 
			 537 Tilbury St. Andrew's House 
			 543 Cardiff—Llanishen 
			 547 Llandrindod Wells 
			 554 Portsmouth Continental Ferry Port Porta Cabin 
			 554 Portsmouth Continental Ferry Port Porta Cabin 
			 556 Grimsby Estuary House 
			 567 Chichester City Business Centre 
			 573 Ashford Epps Building 
			 581 Maidstone—6-8 Albion Place—2nd Flr 
			 583 Northallerton—Unit 2 Standard Way 
			 584 Taunton—Riverside Chambers—2nd Flr 
			 589 Gloucester—Nympsfield Rd 
			 589 Gloucester—Nympsfield Rd 
			 590 Harwich—Hamilton House 
			 594 Penryn—The Seaways—Commercial Rd 
			 595 Plymouth—Millbay Docks—Ground Lease 
			 598 Carlisle—Watchtree—FMD site Bore hole 
			 644 Reading—Paddock Rd—Unit 4D 
			 662 Morecambe—Heysham—Portakabin 
			 667 Dover—Waterloo Crescent—1st Flr 
			 673 North Shields—Fish Quay—Unit 2 
			 674 Scarborough—West Pier—Baiting Shed 24 
			 675 Banbury—The Old Academy 
			 685 France—Coquelles Calais 
			 693 Stoneleigh Park—Old Childrens Farm—Unit 9 Block 83 
			 694 Uxbridge—Market Centre—Units 1C and 9A 
			 696 Stafford—Building 14—RAF 
			 698 Ledbury—Bronsil House 
			 699 Wakefield—Northgate-Bullring House 
			 701 Peterborough—Ham Lane House 
			 704 Peterborough—Northminster House 
			 705 Wigan—Pier House—1st Flr 
			 705 Wigan—Pier House—Gnd Flr—Mtg Rm 
			 705 Wigan—Pier House—Gnd Flr—Frnt Suite 
			 705 Wigan—Pier House—Gnd Flr Store 
			 707 Lyndhurst—1 Southampton Rd 
			 717 Lewes—Phoenix House-Office B 
			 739 Peterborough—Harvester Way—Unit 22 
			 742 Exeter—Renslade House—Level 2 
			 743 Newcastle—The Quadrant-Unit 7 
			 749 Penzance—Boswednan—Barn C 
			 751 Woking—Dukes Court 
			 756 Birmingham, Victoria Square Government Offices 
			 757 London, Belgrave Road (prt 5th floor) 
			   
			  Forestry Commission  
			  Exeter—Suite B The Castle Mamhead 
			  Exeter—Suite D The Castle Mamhead 
			  Exeter—Suite H The Castle Mamhead 
			  Cambridge Great Eastern House 
			  Worcester Govt Buildings 
			  Bristol 42b High Street 
			   
			  Consumer Council for Water  
			  Exeter Broadwork House 
			  Darlington Northgate House 
			   
			  Environmental Agency  
			  Norwich Office 
			  Saxmundham 
			  Saxmundham 
			  Sutton Coldfield—Wrens Court 
			  Thirsk—Suite B Thirsk Business Park 
			  Willerby—1A Viking Close 
			  Carlisle—Kingstown Depot 
			  Warrington—Hoyle Street Depot 
			  Penrith—Ullswater Road Depot 
			  Preston—Walton Summit Depot 
			  Exeter—Exminster House 
			  Bath—Phoenix House 
			  West Malling—Orchard House 
			  Timsbury Open Storage 
			  Amersham Office 
			  Abingdon—Home Farm Flood Defence 
			  South Holmwood Depot 
			  Aylesbury—Stonethorpe Farm 
			  Abingdon—Manor Farm 
			  Crickhowell—Units 7 and 8. Negotiating for new lease. 
			  Cardiff—Bay Chambers 
			  Newtown—St. David's House 
			  Bristol—Block 1 and 2 Gov Bldgs 
			  Bristol—Rio House

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in his Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following tables provide details of the average hourly rate of pay for permanent and temporary staff in DEFRA as at 31 May 2008, for which figures are available.
	
		
			  (a) Average hourly rates of pay for permanent staff (includes fixed-term appointees) 
			  £ 
			  Grade/grade equivalents  London (hourly rate)  National (hourly rate) 
			 AA 9.99 7.91 
			 AO 11.75 9.64 
			 EO 14.22 12.60 
			 HEO 16.57 15.08 
			 SEO 20.09 18.24 
			 Grade 7 26.57 24.34 
			 Grade 6 32.48 29.88 
			 SCS 41.65 38.37 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Average hourly rates of pay for temporary staff (relates to casual staff only, and not those who are being employed through an agency) 
			  £ 
			  Grade/Grade Equivalents  London (hourly rate)  National (hourly rate) 
			 AA — 7.31 
			 AO — 8.95 
			 EO 13.41 11.33 
			 HEO 15.75 — 
			 SEO 19.47 19.68 
			 Grade 7 24.45 — 
			 Grade 6 32.30 — 
			 SCS — — 
		
	
	The data cover all staff in core-DEFRA and the Executive Agencies covered by the core-Department's pay arrangements (Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Government Decontamination Service and Marine and Fisheries Agency).

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will review salary negotiations for public-sector employees in organisations within his Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above 3 per cent.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles: public-sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery, ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within the Departments' overall expenditure plans; and consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular work force depends on pay-setting arrangements for that work force.

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many reviews of regulation  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have conducted or commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Jonathan R Shaw: Since 1 July 2007, the Department has issued public consultation documents across its sphere of activities as follows:
	
		
			  Area of activity:  Number of consultations 
			 Climate change and environment protection 36 
			 Food and farming, animal and plant health 23 
			 Natural environment and rural issues 27 
		
	
	These public consultations, which often include impact assessments, review the effect of regulation and related issues, and make proposals for amendment based on policy objectives and representations received. More detail is available from the DEFRA consultation site at
	www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/default.asp
	In the main, DEFRA agencies do not have direct policy responsibility for general statutory instruments. However, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate also consults on proposals to amend legislation, including changes to fees levels. More information on current and completed consultations is available from the VMD website at
	http://www.vmd.gov.uk/publications/consultations/previous.htm
	The Department's annual simplification plans provide detailed information on ongoing simplification initiatives, including those involving reviews of, or amendments to, regulation, and on measures being pursued by DEFRA agencies.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures his Department follows for checking the criminal records of employees; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: A baseline personnel security standard check is carried out, in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines, on staff in DEFRA at the point of recruitment. Contract staff, consultants and agency temps employed by the Department are also screened to the same standard.
	Checking the 'unspent' criminal records of employees is an integral part of that process. Recruits are required to complete a criminal records declaration form which, in accordance with the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, does not require them to reveal 'spent' convictions. At present, one in every five declarations is checked, but from October 2008, and in line with Cabinet Office recommendations, all declarations will be checked for unspent convictions through Disclosure Scotland.
	When national security vetting is necessary for a particular post, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1979 provide for a check of both spent and unspent criminal convictions.
	Depending on the outcome of these checks and the satisfactory completion of the other elements of the baseline personnel security standard process, recruits can take up post and be given access to DEFRA buildings and IT systems.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of successful applicants for jobs in his Department are subjected to a criminal records check; how many  (a) successful applicants and  (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; whether the selection of successful candidates to be subjected to a criminal records check is random or targeted; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: At present, and in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, one in five applicants are selected at random and checked for 'unspent' criminal convictions. In accordance with the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, applicants are not required to declare 'spent' convictions, and therefore no checks are made in that respect. Unfortunately, figures are not readily available for each of the listed categories and periods concerned and could not be produced without our incurring disproportionate cost.

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date the euro changeover plan of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each.

Jonathan R Shaw: The DEFRA euro changeover plan was last updated in November 2005. The changeover plan covers all organisations within the departmental boundary, including executive agencies. A copy of this plan will be placed in the Library.

Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, 
	(1)  Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by local resilience forums in incorporating Environment Agency data on areas at risk of surface water flooding into their emergency plans; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many local resilience forums have received information from the Environment Agency on the probability of flooding to critical infrastructure in their area; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Local resilience forums have set up sub-groups to consider the impacts of extreme weather and flooding. DEFRA has asked the Environment Agency to identify locations which are susceptible to surface water flooding, and to provide that information to the local resilience forums. This work is nearing completion, and the Environment Agency expects to have this information available for the local resilience forums from August 2008.
	Most local resilience forums have received information from the Environment Agency on flood risk to infrastructure. The Agency is also providing information directly to infrastructure owners. The Cabinet Office has established a process for local resilience forums to be briefed on critical national infrastructure in their areas, so that its vulnerability to flooding can be assessed.

Forests: Nature Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to protect the native fauna of natural woodland, with particular reference to the red squirrel, under the terms of the Bern Convention.

Joan Ruddock: The UK Government are involved in an extensive range of measures to conserve our native woodland fauna.
	In England, Bern Convention obligations are implemented through the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The red squirrel is listed in Schedule 5 to the WCA and as such is protected from intentional killing, injury, taking, possession, sale or intentional destruction of any structure or place used for shelter.
	The UK Biodiversity Action Plan also includes a Species Action Plan for the red squirrel which primarily aims to maintain self-sustaining populations of red squirrels, and wherever practicable expand red squirrel populations where their sustainability is threatened. This action plan is being implemented through a broad partnership of Government, statutory conservation agencies and the private and voluntary sectors.
	The Isle of Wight remains a haven for red squirrels in the south of England. Forestry Commission grants have resulted in 210 hectares of new woodland planting to link fragmented habitat. The Forestry Commission woods, which are managed for red squirrel conservation, have benefited from this linking.
	The Red Alert North England partners have designated 16 reserves and associated buffer zones where long-term survival of the red squirrel is considered most likely. The partners' Save our Squirrels project is delivering advice to landowners, co-ordinating squirrel control in the buffers, promoting Forestry Commission grants, raising public awareness and gaining further funding for squirrel conservation work.
	The Red Squirrel Protection Partnership led by Lord Redesdale was awarded a three year £148,000 grant in June 2006 from the Rural Enterprise Scheme to support the control of grey squirrels in Northumberland to help protect the red squirrel reserves.

Forests: Nature Conservation

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress the Forestry Commission for England has made in developing a policy for the restoration of priority biodiversity habitats from woods and forests; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Forestry Commission held workshops in 2007, which generated constructive engagement by stakeholders and gathered information on the context for the policy. The Forestry Commission, working closely with DEFRA and Natural England, has now established a process and timetable for completing development of the policy. This policy will set out how priority open habitats may be restored from woods and forests to help deliver objectives for biodiversity, landscape and cultural heritage, taking into account all of our aims for England's trees, woods and forests. The process will include a public consultation beginning in October 2008, and the Forestry Commission aims for completion of a policy by spring 2009.

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are currently 85 staff in my Department engaged in a range of communication related work, who can choose to have access to the Government Communications network (GCN). Staff working in the Department's Agencies do not generally have access to the GCN, but precise details could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Grasslands: Nature Conservation

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what areas of  (a) lowland dry acid grassland,  (b) lowland raised bog and  (c) lowland heathland have been (i) restored or (ii) re-created in England since the publication of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan; and what the targets under the England Biodiversity Strategy are for the restoration and expansion of these habitats by 2015.

Joan Ruddock: Since the publication of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan,
	 (a) The Higher Level Scheme of Environmental Stewardship is funding the restoration or re-creation of 744 ha of lowland dry acid grassland.
	 (b) An estimated 3,500 ha of lowland raised bog is under restoration. It is not possible to re-create lowland raised bog except over very long time scales.
	 (c) An estimated 35,555 ha of lowland heathland has been restored and 6,244 ha has been re-created.
	New estimates of progress, incorporating information from a range of sources and stakeholders, will be available in early 2009 following completion of the next triennial UK Biodiversity Action Plan reporting round.
	The targets under the England Biodiversity Strategy for the restoration and expansion of these habitats from 2005 to 2015 are as follows.
	
		
			  Habitat  Restoration target (ha)  Expansion target (ha) 
			 Lowland dry acid grassland 285 276 
			 Lowland raised bog 1,000 0 
			 Lowland heathland 34,086 6,100

Grey Squirrels: Pest Control

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons Warfarin is not permitted to be used for the control of grey squirrels during autumn and winter.

Joan Ruddock: The use of Warfarin is controlled by the Grey Squirrel (Warfarin) Order 1973, which permits the poisoning of grey squirrels for the purpose of tree protection. Grey squirrel bark stripping damage is seasonal, occurring from late April until the end of July. Squirrels will re-colonise woodlands from which they have been cleared within one to three months and therefore removing squirrels at any time of the year, other than just prior to and during the damage period, will have little effect on tree damage prevention. In accordance with the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986, the product label specifies that Warfarin may be deployed to control grey squirrels between 15 March and 15 August.
	Warfarin may only be used to control grey squirrels for tree damage prevention, and only 'grey squirrel bait' is approved for use against grey squirrels. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Warfarin cannot be used where red squirrels or pine martens are present.
	No consideration has been given to extending the period in which Warfarin can be used. The Increased use of Warfarin would go against the stringent requirement in the UK Woodland Assurance Standard for pesticides reduction.

Institute for Animal Health

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has for the Institute for Animal Health research facility at Compton.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Institute for Animal Health (IAH) is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. It is sponsored, as are six other research institutes, by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), a non-departmental public body whose parent Department is the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Benyon) on 13 June 2008,  Official Report, column 534W.

Leishmaniasis

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) companion animals and  (b) wild animals have been diagnosed with leishmaniasis in each of the last 10 years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Leishmaniasis is not a notifiable disease, so no definitive data is available for the total number of diagnoses made in companion or wild animals. However, in order to assess the implications of certain exotic diseases, DEFRA set up a voluntary exotic diseases surveillance scheme for dogs and cats across Great Britain, in consultation with the BVA (British Veterinary Association) and BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association). This scheme is known as the Dog and Cat Travel and Risk Information scheme (DACTARI) and was launched in March 2003. Between 1 January 2003 and 30 September 2006, 19 confirmed and a further five suspected cases of Leishmaniasis in dogs were reported to DACTARI. Two of the confirmed cases were identified by veterinary surgeons in dogs living in Scotland; the remainder were from dogs living in England.
	10 suspected cases of Leishmaniasis were reported to DACTARI in 2003, eight in 2004, five during 2005 (including one dog that was also diagnosed with Babesiosis), and one case was reported up to 30 September 2006. There were no reports for cats. Currently, there is no data available after September 2006. DEFRA does not undertake targeted surveillance for Leishmaniasis in wildlife, and no cases have been identified via the wildlife scanning surveillance system to date.

Nutrition

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support his Department is giving to the 5-a-day campaign for consumption of fruit and vegetables.

Jonathan R Shaw: We work closely with the Department of Health on a variety of issues, including the 5-a-day campaign.
	One of the ways we promote the programme is through the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI), which has a key objective to increase the consumption of healthy and nutritious food.
	In support of the objective, catering contractors are advised under the PSFPI to encourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables in accordance with the 5-a-day programme. Suggestions include displaying bowls of fruit in canteens or staff rooms to make it easy for people to grab healthy snacks on the run, providing more fruit and vegetables options as part of meals and using 5-a-day resources (which include posters, books and postcards) which illustrate portion size and what counts towards 5-a-day.
	Additionally, the Catering Services and Food Procurement Toolkit of the PSFPI specifies that contractors shall show support for the Government's 5-a-day programme by, for example, increasing fruit and vegetables in composition dishes and signing up for the national 5-a-day logo for use on menus and promotional materials. There is also a case study on the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, part of the 5-a-day programme, in the "DIY guide to implementing the PSFPI—advice for practitioners", found on the DEFRA website.

Pesticides: EU Action

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent agreement by the EU to introduce a positive list of pesticides; and how many pesticides he expects will be prohibited in the UK as a result of this decision.

Phil Woolas: The Agriculture and Fisheries Council reached political agreement on 23 June on a compromise text of the Slovenian presidency for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products (i.e. agricultural pesticides) on the market. The regulation would include a positive list of active substances approved for use in plant protection products in member states. We expect the text to be adopted as the common position of the Council and communicated to the European Parliament for its second reading in the autumn.
	The Pesticides Safety Directorate recently published an assessment of the potential impact of these proposals on 286 active substances. It concludes that up to 15 per cent. of those substances could be withdrawn under the Commission's original proposals, which have been largely reflected in the presidency's compromise text, and up to 85 per cent. if amendments proposed by the Parliament in its first reading report were adopted.
	A copy of the assessment has been placed in the Library of the House.

Warm Front Scheme

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of Warm Front grants made to people in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) south Tyneside,  (c) the north-east and  (d) England was of the Warm Front scheme.

Phil Woolas: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Values are calculated by scheme year, 1 April to 31 March, except for 2000-01 where the scheme commenced on 1 June 2000.

Warm Front Scheme

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the average waiting time for  (a) heating measures and  (b) insulation measures to be introduced under the Warm Front scheme in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) south Tyneside, (iii) the north-east and (iv) England in each year since the inception of the scheme.

Phil Woolas: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Timelines are broken down by area as outlined above and are measured by scheme year 1 April to 31 March.
	It has not been possible to provide the requested level of detail from the scheme's inception and so detail is provided from the commencement of scheme year 2005-06.

Warm Front Scheme

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many back boilers have been replaced under the Warm Front scheme in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) south Tyneside,  (c) the north-east and  (d) England in each year since the inception of the scheme.

Phil Woolas: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House and illustrates all boiler replacements fitted by eaga through the Warm Front scheme split by area, as outlined above, and by scheme year, 1 April to 31 March, except for 2000-01 where the scheme commenced on 1 June 2000.
	It has not been possible to separate out the number of replacement back boilers fitted through the scheme in the time allowed, nor is it possible to provide these data for the eastern region before 2005, where the scheme was previously delivered by Powergen. This only affects figures provided for England as a whole.

Warm Front Scheme

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have received a Warm Front Scheme grant in  (a) Jarrow Constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since its inception.

Phil Woolas: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Figures are split by scheme year, 1 April to 31 March, except for 2000-01 when the scheme commenced on 1 June 2000.

TREASURY

Aviation

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2008,  Official Report, column 861W, on domestic flights, if he will list the destination of each flight.

Angela Eagle: The information requested could not be provided within the disproportionate costs threshold.

Child Benefit: EC Nationals

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many European Economic Area nationals claiming child benefit in respect of children living overseas have been investigated for fraud in the last 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: Statistical information on child benefit compliance interventions broken down by nationality of the individual is not available.

Debts

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average level of personal  (a) secured and  (b) unsecured debt expressed (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a percentage of income was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 8 July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your questions on what the average level of personal (a) secured and (b) unsecured debt expressed (i) in pounds and (ii) as a percentage of income was in each year since 1997. (215873)
	
		
			  Table 1—shows average household sector (a) unsecured and (b) secured loans in (i) pounds and (ii) as a percentage of gross disposable household income 
			   Average unsecured loans (£)  Average secured loans (£)  Unsecured loans as percentage of GDHI  Secured loans as percentage of GDHI 
			 1997 1,516 7606 16 79 
			 1998 1,666 8044 17 81 
			 1999 1,861 8664 18 83 
			 2000 2,111 9359 19 86 
			 2001 2,383 10,291 21 89 
			 2002 2,659 11,636 22 97 
			 2003 2,745 13,344 22 107 
			 2004 3,064 15,038 24 118 
			 2005 3,223 16,007 24 119 
			 2006 3,395 17,744 25 129 
			 2007 n/a n/a 25 135 
			  Source: Secured loans—table A64 in UK Economic Accounts identifiers NNRQ, NNRR, NNRS and NNRU. Unsecured loans—table A64 in UK Economic Accounts identifiers NNRG and NNRK. Households' gross disposable income-table A38 in UK Economic Accounts identifier QWND.

Debts

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average total personal debt servicing level as a percentage of income; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 8 July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question on what estimate has been made of the average total personal debt servicing level as a percentage of income. (215874)
	Total household loans as a percentage of gross disposable household income for 2007, is estimated to be 160 per cent.
	 Source :
	Total loans—table A64 in UK Economic Accounts identifier NNRE.
	Households' gross disposable household income—table A38 in UK Economic Accounts identifier QWND.

Departmental Sick Leave

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Data for 2004, 2005, 2006-07 for the Treasury and its agencies can be found on the civil service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp
	Information relating to the Treasury, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), OGC Buying Solutions and Debt Management Office for 2007-08 is not yet available but will be published later in the year. For years prior to 2004 data are not held electronically and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sick Leave

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility who gave (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders as the reason for their absence was in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility have taken sick days due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of staff of each body this represented in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Information for 2004, 2005, 2006-07 for the Treasury and its agencies and can be found on the civil service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp
	All three illnesses are grouped together as 'Mental and Behavioural Disorders'
	Data for 2007-08 are not yet available but will be published later in the year. For years prior to 2004 data are not held electronically and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days of sick leave were taken by his Department's employees in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: 7,765 days sick leave were taken in 2002 and 7,073 days in 2003. Data for 2004, 2005, 2006-07 and can be found on the civil service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp.
	Information for 2007-08 is not yet available but will be published later in the year. For years prior to 2002 data are not held electronically and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Financial Action Task Force

William Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Action Task Force's typology study on proliferation financing is expected to be published; what the UK's contribution to the study has been; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the study on publication.

Kitty Ussher: The Financial Action Task Force's typology study on proliferation financing was agreed at the FATF Plenary meetings in London on 20 June, and is expected to be published shortly via the FATF website. A copy will be placed in the Library on publication.
	The UK was one of the 10 FATF member countries represented on the project group which prepared this report. The UK contributed to discussion and drafting by that group, and supplied background information and case study material.

Fuels: Local Authorities

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the use of red diesel by groundsmen employed by local authorities when driving on public roads between local authority-owned open spaces and recreation grounds; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury has not to date received any formal representations on this issue.
	Information on the circumstances whereby red diesel can be used in agricultural vehicles on the public road is contained in the Memorandum of Agreement published by HMRC in January this year and available on the HMRC website.

Natural Gas: Prices

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what gas price assumptions were used in compiling budget forecasts for each Financial Statement and Budget Report since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The projections for gas prices, used in the North sea revenues forecast take into account the spot price for gas, long-term contract prices, futures prices and the expected movement in sterling oil prices.

Revenue and Customs: Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings HM Revenue and Customs has made in the last three years through the sale of its buildings.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) change programme is designed to consolidate the estate following the merger of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise and to match the accommodation to future business needs. The overall aim of the programme is to provide better service at a lower cost to the taxpayer and although estate savings are important they are not the primary driver.
	HMRC has made approximately a total of £69,000 in savings over the last three financial years through the sale of buildings it formerly owned. The savings figure comprises estimated saved costs of annual business rates and utilities. The savings figure relates to savings made through the direct sale of buildings by HMRC. Following the strategic transfer of the estate to the private sector (STEPS) outsourcing deal with Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited in April 2001, ownership of most of the properties formerly owned by Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise transferred to Mapeley and HMRC therefore has minimal buildings left in its ownership to be considered as part of the change programme.

Revenue and Customs: Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings HM Revenue and Customs has made in the last three years through the termination of leases on buildings it formerly leased.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) change programme is designed to consolidate the estate following the merger of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise and to match the accommodation to future business needs. The overall aim of the programme is to provide better service at a lower cost to the taxpayer and although estate savings are important they are not the primary driver.
	HMRC has achieved approximately £2,294,000 in savings over the last three financial years through the termination of leases it formerly leased. The savings figure comprises annual rent, landlord service charge (where applicable), business rates and utilities. The savings figure given relates to estate savings made following the termination of leases directly held by HMRC and does not reflect any savings made under the strategic transfer of the estate to the private sector (STEPS) outsourcing deal with Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited in April 2001.

Revenue and Customs: Closures

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs offices have been closed in each Parliamentary constituency since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was formed in April 2005 from the two former revenue departments, Inland Revenue (IR) and HM Customs and Excise (HMCE), in order to achieve synergies and efficiencies through modernisation of its business operations and rationalisation of its estate.
	Information on how many HMRC offices have been closed in each parliamentary constituency from 1997 to March 2001 would be available only at disproportionate cost. Details of how many HMRC offices, and previously IR and HMCE offices, that have been closed in each parliamentary constituency since April 2001 has been deposited in the Library of the House. The relevant parliamentary constituency information could not be identified for five early closures as the historic information held could not be matched to constituency parameters.

Revenue and Customs: Manpower

Nick Ainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many posts at Grade 6 and above there were in  (a) Inland Revenue and  (b) HM Customs and Excise before their amalgamation into HM Revenue and Customs; and how many posts at Grade 6 and above there are in HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs was created on 18 April 2005. The number of staff in posts at grade 6 and above in Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise immediately prior to this was as follows:
	On 1 April 2005:
	Inland Revenue—1,360 (1,327 full-time equivalent) staff in post at Grade 6 and above.
	HM Customs and Excise—266 (262 FTE) staff in post at Grade 6 and above.
	On 1 June 2008 there were 1,552 (1,515 FTE) staff in post at Grade 6 and above in HM Revenue and Customs.

Revenue and Customs: Scotland

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the staff turnover rate was at each HM Revenue and Customs office in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The turnover or wastage rate is the number of people leaving the Department as a percentage of the average staff in post.
	HMRC does not hold information on the turnover rate for individual locations in Scotland for the years 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, or 2006-07.
	The turnover or wastage rate in the office locations in Scotland for 2007-08 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Town  Total turnover/wastage (percentage) 
			 Aberdeen 10.6 
			 Ayr 1.4 
			 Bathgate 5.2 
			 Buckie 8.3 
			 Coatbridge 0 
			 Cumbernauld 1.7 
			 Dumbarton 0 
			 Dumfries 7.8 
			 Dundee 4.5 
			 Dunfermline 3.2 
			 Dunoon 0 
			 East Kilbride 4 
			 Edinburgh 3.9 
			 Elgin 0 
			 Falkirk 0 
			 Galashiels 5.9 
			 Glasgow 3.1 
			 Glenrothes 2.4 
			 Grangemouth 3.5 
			 Greenock 3.9 
			 Hamilton 0 
			 Hawick 9.1 
			 Inverness 1.8 
			 Irvine 3.1 
			 Kirkcaldy 0 
			 Lerwick 0 
			 Livingston 7 
			 Motherwell 3.8 
			 Oban 0 
			 Paisley 1.3 
			 Perth 0 
			 Peterhead 10.5 
			 Prestwick 28.6 
			 Rothesay 0 
			 Stirling 9 
			 Ullapool 0 
			 Wick 0 
			 Grand total 3.9

Revenue and Customs: Scotland

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the staff absentee rate was at each HM Revenue and Customs office in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not available centrally and would cost HMRC a disproportionate amount of time and resource to obtain.

Revenue and Customs: Wales

Nick Ainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department had with representatives of senior management of the Large Business Service (oils) in HM Revenue and Customs before publishing the proposal to close the HM Revenue and Customs Pembroke Dock office.

Jane Kennedy: Work force change teams in HM Revenue and Customs have worked and will continue to work closely with all business streams within the Department including the Large Business Service. Initial proposals reflect current business plans and future accommodation requirements both for space and facilities.

Revenue and Customs: Wales

Nick Ainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the publication of HM Revenue and Customs Workforce Change proposals on 11 June, how much spare capacity there will be in Ty Glees Carmarthen, following the transfer of staff from Ty Myoddin Carmarthen to Ty Glees.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC currently has two offices within the Carmarthen area, Crown Buildings, Picton Terrace and Ty Myrddin. The proposal published on 11 June is to retain Crown Buildings and vacate Ty Myrddin, but this is subject to consultation and detailed feasibility work and no decisions have yet been taken. Based on this proposal there would be no spare capacity in the building by 2012. If there was an increased business requirement it would be possible for more staff to work out of Crown Buildings through further optimisation of the existing space or by implementing desk sharing.

Revenue and Customs: Wales

Nick Ainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the publication of HM Revenue and Customs Workforce Change proposals on 11th June, how many staff will be transferred from Pembrokeshire offices to Ty Glees in Carmarthen.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) currently has two offices in Carmarthen; Crown Buildings and Ty Myrddin. Proposals were published on 11 June 2008 which include the retention of Crown Buildings and vacation of Ty Myrddin. No decisions have been taken at this stage.

Revenue and Customs: Wales

Nick Ainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions HM Revenue and Customs officials have had with officials of the UK Border Agency on the co-location of their staff in Pembrokeshire.

Jane Kennedy: Estates teams in HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency are working closely together to identify the scope for mutually beneficial rationalisation of their respective estates across the whole of the UK. This co-operation was set up early in the life of the new shadow UKBA and will continue over many months in order to deal with the technical and legal issues that will need to be overcome to deliver practical estate solutions.

Tax Avoidance: British Overseas Territories

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to prevent or inhibit the use of British Overseas Territories in tax avoidance by UK-based (i) companies and (ii) individuals.

Jane Kennedy: There are a range of measures that help to combat tax avoidance, through British Overseas Territories and more generally. These include the tax avoidance disclosure regime, under which tax avoidance schemes must be disclosed to HM Revenue and Customs, in accordance with strict rules that enable the users of schemes to be identified.
	In addition, the UK is negotiating tax information exchange agreements with a number of Overseas Territories, which should increase transparency and ensure that HMRC is able to obtain information on the income of UK tax residents arising from accounts and activities in those territories. The UK is also encouraging the Overseas Territories to conclude similar agreements with other countries, within the framework of the OECD Harmful Tax Practices initiative.
	The Caribbean Overseas Territories have all concluded savings tax agreements with EU member states within the framework of the Savings Directive, introduced in 2005. This is specifically concerned with tackling tax evasion and provides for the exchange of information, or the transfer of withholding tax, on the savings accounts of UK and other EU residents in those territories.

Taxation: Rebates

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what budgetary provision his Department makes for the repayment of overpaid taxation; and by what means such provision is calculated.

Jane Kennedy: Where appropriate, the tax forecasts published in each Financial Statement and Budget Report and pre-Budget report are net of amounts that are expected to be repaid. However, HMRC make no budgetary provision for the repayment of overpaid taxes. When repayments to taxpayers become due, because they have overpaid, these amounts are netted off revenue collected by HMRC and the net amount collected is then paid over to the Consolidated Fund. Net revenue collected by tax and duty type is shown in the Department's Trust Statement.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Adult Education: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what funding has been allocated to adult education in Hemsworth constituency in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: Funding for adult participation through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) will reach nearly £3.6 billion per year by 2010-11, an increase of 17 per cent. compared with 2007-08. This will support on average over three million funded adult learners per year over the next three years.
	LSC funding is allocated to further education (FE) colleges and providers to offer education and skills training to adults in response to the needs of both learners and employers. As FE providers often operate cross constituency borders, the following table provides information on adult funding in respect of the two main FE providers serving the Wakefield area; Wakefield college and Wakefield district council.
	
		
			  Adult funding for the main further education providers in the Wakefield district 
			   2003/04 (actuals)  2004/05 (actuals)  2005/06 (actuals)  2006/07 (actuals)  2007/08 (allocations) 
			 Wakefield college(1) 3,520,098 4,043,563 3,683,988 3,981,982 4,200,475 
			 Wakefield district council(2) 2,852,790 3,176,379 3,176,782 2,888,414 2,884,347 
			 Total 6,372,888 7,219,942 6,860,770 6,870,396 7,084,822 
			 (1) Total funding includes funding for 19+ further education provision, Train to Gain (which rolled out fully from 2006/07) and 19+ work-based learning. 2 Total funding includes funding for 19+ further education provision and adult safeguarded learning (includes adult and community learning, personal and community development learning among other provision). No Train to Gain funding information is available but the district council do deliver this provision as part of a consortium. 
		
	
	Other providers based in the Wakefield district deliver Train to Gain and Work-based Learning. The adult funding allocated to these providers has not been included on the basis that they will be delivering to learners across a much wider area—in some cases at a regional or national level. Including this information would not accurately represent the funding spent on adult education in the Wakefield/Hemsworth area.

Adult Education: Hemsworth

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the average cost of an adult education course is in  (a) England,  (b) Hemsworth constituency and  (c) Wakefield District.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) use a national funding system comprising of national rates as the basis for determining the amount of public funding payable for courses funded through the Adult Learner and Employer Responsive funding models. The actual funding for an individual course is based on the number of hours required to complete the course. Those learners who do not qualify for full fee remission are expected to contribute to the cost of the course in line with the national fee assumption. For the 2007/08 academic year the national fee assumption is 37.5 per cent. of the national funding rate.
	Adjustments are made to this value to take account of the higher costs of delivering certain subjects. The total public funding allocated to a college or provider will also take account of factors such as success rates and disadvantage (providing additional funding for learners from deprived areas). In light of the number of factors affecting the actual amount payable for each course it is not possible to provide an average level of funding for an adult education course.

Copyright

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what progress the UK Intellectual Property Office has made in its consultation on copyright exceptions; and when he expects it to report the results of the consultation.

Ian Pearson: The consultation arising from the Gowers review of intellectual property, is taking place in two phases. The first phase was launched in January this year, and closed in April. Some 250 responses were received. Most of the respondents fell into two distinct categories: either seeking to maintain existing levels of protection for rights holders, or wanting far greater use of exceptions to permit freer access to copyrighted materials.
	The UK Intellectual Property Office is currently working towards the second stage of the consultation, which is expected to be launched later this year. This second stage is intended to set out any legislative changes which will give effect to the Government's proposals. Final decisions on the way forward will be taken in the light of the outcome of the second phase.

European Space Agency: Contracts

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the value of the contracts awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK from involvement in European Space Agency projects.

Ian Pearson: ESA publishes quarterly figures on contracts placed, but does not publish information specifically on SMEs.

European Space Agency: Finance

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the value in sterling of industrial or governmental contributions to European Space Agency optional projects.

Ian Pearson: The estimated total value in sterling of governmental contributions to European Space Agency optional projects in 2008 is £124,827,000. The UK's participation in optional projects is carefully selected to address Government policy priorities such as climate change and technological innovation.

European Space Agency: Job Creation

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of employment created in small and medium-sized businesses in the UK by European Space Agency projects.

Ian Pearson: There are no estimates available relating solely to small and medium-sized business employment on European Space Agency projects.

European Space Agency: Job Creation

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of employment created in the UK by European Space Agency projects.

Ian Pearson: There are no estimates relating solely to European Space Agency projects but in the 'Size and Health of the UK Space Industry' survey published by BNSC in 2006, analysis indicated that 16,200 people were already employed in the space sector and, taking indirect factors into account, the UK space sector contributes some £7 billion and 70,000 jobs to the economy.

European Space Agency: UK Contributions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the UK contributed to the European Space Agency in 2007.

Ian Pearson: UK subscriptions to European Space Agency (ESA) programmes are carefully chosen to address the UK's scientific and commercial priorities as well as to ensure that UK industrial capabilities are exploited to the full. The Government through the British National Space Centre works closely with ESA to ensure maximum possible returns to UK industry, including SMEs. The UK contributed a little over €259,456,000 to the European Space Agency in 2007.

Learndirect

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of Learndirect centres are on the premises of  (a) companies and  (b) other private sector organisations.

David Lammy: The following figures are based on information available at the end of June 2008. Learndirect is subcontracted to 324 providers and, through these providers, Learndirect operates in 728 centres in a wide range of settings. 56.5 per cent. (411) of Learndirect centres are based in the premises of private sector organisations, of which 0.4 per cent. (three) are based in the premises of a company.
	In order to demonstrate how we reach 100 per cent. I have included a full breakdown:
	10.4 per cent. (76) are based in the premises of a charitable/voluntary/community organisation;
	8 per cent. (58) are based in the premises of a public sector organisation;
	22.9 per cent. (167) are based in the premises of a statutory body;
	the type of location of 2.2 per cent. (16) of the total number of centres has not been provided to Ufi.
	Should you have any other questions about Ufi or LearnDirect please do not hesitate to contact us.

Lung Cancer: Research

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what funding the Medical Research Council has provided for research into lung cancer in each financial year since 1997-98; what research has been funded by such expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Medical Research Council's (MRC) direct expenditure on lung cancer research since 1997 was as follows:
	
		
			   Expenditure on lung cancer research (£) 
			 1997/98 93,000 
			 1998/99 268,000 
			 1999/2000 184,000 
			 2000/01 581,000 
			 2001/02 1.6 million 
			 2002/03 1.8 million 
			 2003/04 2.1 million 
			 2004/05 1.5 million 
			 2005/06 1.6 million 
			 2006/07 2.1 million 
		
	
	These figures do not include expenditure on other diseases that has generated findings relevant to lung cancer. In addition, the MRC funds a considerable amount of basic underpinning research which is excluded from these figures. In 2006/07, the overall MRC expenditure on cancer research amounted to £85.6 million.
	MRC research on lung cancer includes funding to the MRC Clinical Trials Unit for the Clinical Trials in Lung Cancer programme and funding for screening and genetics research programmes at the MRC Cancer Cell Unit.
	The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is a UK-wide partnership between the Government, charity and industry which promotes co-operation in cancer research among the 21 member organisations for the benefit of patients, the public and the scientific community. Member organisations include the Department of Health and MRC.
	NCRI helps make cancer research information available online via the International Cancer Research Portfolio database at: www.cancerportfolio.org. Details of MRC research on all cancers including lung cancer can be found through this database.
	In 2006, the NCRI's lung cancer Strategic Planning Group identified the need to strengthen research on supportive and palliative care requirements of lung cancer patients. Dedicated funds (up to £2.2 million) have now been pledged by NCRI partners (Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK, Department of Health, MRC, Economic and Social Research Council, Scottish Government Health Directorates, Health and Social Care R&D Office) to support a call for proposals in research in this area. Applications have been received and awards are about to be made. MRC has pledged £240,000 to this initiative.

Science: Research

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was spent on science research in each year since 1997; and what the projected spending is for each year to 2011.

Ian Pearson: DIUS investment in research through the Science and Research Budget and the Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) recurrent grant for research is set out in the following tables:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   1996-7  1997-8  1998-9  1999-00  2000-01  2001-2  2002-3  2003-4  2004-5 
			 Total Science Budget 1,312 1,331 1,334 1,394 1,514 1.707 1,947 2,259 2,408 
			 Total Higher Education Funding Council England (HEFCE)(1) 638 704 829 835 867 888 941 1,037 1,079 
			 Total DIUS Science Research(2) 1,950 2,035 2,163 2,229 2,381 2,595 2,888 3,296 3,487 
		
	
	
		
			   Estimated outturn  CSR07 plan 
			   2005-6  2006-7  2007-8  2008-9  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Total Science Budget 3,040 3,246 3,382 3,554 3,715 3,970 
			 Total Higher Education Funding Council England (HEFCE)(1) 1,250 1,344 1,415 1,444 1,509 1,634 
			 Total DIUS Science Research(2) 4,290 4,590 4,797 4,998 5,224 5,604 
			 (1) Includes support for Arts and Humanities Research. (2) From 2005-6 includes funding for the Arts and Humanities Research Council.  Source:  SET Statistics Table 2,1, Resources of Higher Education Institutions (Higher Education Statistics Agency), The Allocations of the Science Budget 2008-09 to 2010-11 (DIUS)

Service Industries: Research

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has to fund research and development assistance to the services sector in 2008-09.

Ian Pearson: The research councils support research, training and knowledge exchange that impacts on the services sector. Over the next few years, the research councils will jointly fund a significant proportion of their research under six cross-council priority themes, including living with environmental change and the digital economy, and these are expected to be highly relevant to the services sector both public and private.
	The Technology Strategy Board has recently completed call for research focused on the creative industries, and is currently scoping potential activities for the financial services and retail sectors, and investigating other parts of the service sector including logistics, tourism and leisure. Over the next three years, it will double the number of knowledge transfer partnerships and introduce new, shorter, knowledge transfer partnerships (from 10 to 40 weeks) that are particularly focused towards smaller companies, service sectors and creative industries that do not require a more in depth longer term project. It will also increase its investment in challenge-led innovation activities including innovation platforms such as assisted living that will be relevant to the service sector. The assisted living innovation platform, developed and delivered in partnership with the Department of Health and the research councils, aims to significantly advance the technology to meet the demand for independent living from those suffering from chronic long term conditions.
	Research & Development tax credits are available across industry to any company undertaking qualifying as research and development. Evidence from 2005/06 claims shows that the service sectors are well represented.

UK Intellectual Property Office

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what progress has been made in the UK Intellectual Property Office's consultation on representative actions; and when he expects  (a) the consultation to conclude and  (b) the UK Intellectual Property Office to report on the consultation findings.

Ian Pearson: The UK Intellectual Property Office's consultation on representative actions concluded in 2006 and their findings have not been published to date. The Ministry of Justice, who are the lead Department on representative actions, are shortly to commence an interdepartmental review on this subject and the UK Intellectual Property Office are involved with this exercise. The future direction of this work, as well as the timing of any announcements, will need to be guided by the emerging findings of the Ministry of Justice's more general exercise.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

British Telecom: Billing

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effects of BT's policy of imposing a charge on customers who choose not to pay bills by direct debit, with particular reference to vulnerable customers.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 20 June 2008
	The Office of Communications (Ofcom) has examined regulatory concerns about communications providers' additional charges and draft guidance was published on 28 February at
	http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/addcharges.
	The proposals to curb unfair additional charges levied by communications providers on consumers' bills are designed to ensure that extra charges are fair and that landline, broadband, mobile and pay-TV providers clearly market the true cost of their services. Ofcom expects to produce guidance in the autumn and once finalised, it is proposing to give providers three months to comply. Ofcom will then start an enforcement programme.

Deca-BDE

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department has issued guidance on the use of deca-BDE; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE) is a flame retardant used primarily in plastics and textiles applications. Over an extended period it has been subject to risk assessment action under the EU Existing Substances Regulation; the UK (the Environment Agency) was the rapporteur for the environmental elements of the risk assessment and France was the rapporteur for the human health aspects. As rapporteur the UK has received representations from a wide range of interested parties, including individual companies, industry associations, and non govermental organisations. Contact was also necessary to gather the information needed to carry out the risk assessment.
	The conclusion of the risk assessment is that while deca-BDE is very persistent in the environment, it is not on present evidence bioaccumulative, and it is not toxic. As a result it does not meet the criteria for formal risk reduction activity under the Existing Substances Regulation. However, because of its persistence and widespread presence in the environment the manufacturing industry, with encouragement from the Government, has instigated a voluntary initiative known as the Voluntary Emissions Control and reduction Action Programme (VECAP). New codes of good practice for sustainable use of deca-BDE in the plastics and textile industries have been issued by the manufacturing industry. The aim of the codes of practice is to ensure improved control of emissions.
	A number of other flame retardants have also been evaluated under the Existing Substances Regulation. In addition, in 2003 the Environment Agency commissioned a report on the Prioritisation of Flame Retardants for Environmental Risk Assessment. The aim of the study was to assess the use of and risks associated with flame retardants, in particular to identify substances that might require detailed consideration in terms of their possible impact on the environment. It also considered issues concerning substitution of flame retardants. The study noted that little was known about the effects of many of the substances, including those sometimes proposed for use as substitutes.

Departmental Co-ordination

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 135-36W, on department co-ordination, when the inter-ministerial group on fuel poverty will next meet; and if he will make a statement following the outcome of the meeting.

Malcolm Wicks: The inter-ministerial group on fuel poverty intend to meet before the summer parliamentary recess. I will consider making a statement once the meeting has taken place.

Electricity Generation

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the spinning reserve required for electricity generation from renewable sources at the level required to meet the EU's target for 2020 on renewable energy.

Malcolm Wicks: The System Operator (National Grid) ensures that there is sufficient reserve capacity ie flexible generating plant in responsive mode, on the system at any one time in order to manage the second by second balancing of generation and demand.
	The reserve capacity that needs to be made available at any given time will vary dependent upon a number of factors, including the level of uncertainty of the demand forecast, the short term variability of wind output and the largest credible generation loss on the system. As the value of reserve required in the system varies half-hourly it is not possible to indicate with a single capacity figure the change in reserve requirements resulting from increased wind penetration compared with current levels.
	A study by independent energy consultants SKM commissioned to support of the Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation available at
	www.berr.gov.uk/files/file46772.pdf
	determined that increasing the volume of wind generation to the higher levels indicated as necessary to meet the UK's share of the EU 2020 target for renewable energy, does not lead to a requirement to increase the installed non-renewable capacity in order to ensure sufficient reserve is available to the operator, but that a greater proportion of that non-renewable capacity will be called upon more frequently than at present to manage variations in generation and demand.
	The study indicated that the maximum half hourly generation output increase required to cope with demand variability is currently around 6,000 MW and that increasing wind generation does not modify this value (ie simultaneous large changes in demand and wind output are unlikely) but makes smaller changes more likely. The average half hourly increase in non-renewable generation output to cope with demand increases only is about 985 MW. This value increases to about 1,190 MW with wind generation based on around 35 per cent. of UK electricity demand being met from renewables.

Imports: Iran

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the use of goods imported by Iran since 2001 relating to the nuclear industry.

Malcolm Wicks: Iran is subject to very strict export controls, reflecting concerns about its nuclear programme. Export licence applications for strategically controlled items are carefully assessed by the Department, with advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, against the Consolidated and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. This includes an assessment against national and international sanctions regimes and assessment of the risk of diversion to a weapons of mass destruction programme. While our main focus is on preventing the export of goods of concern at the licensing stage, end use monitoring can be undertaken where feasible and appropriate.

Nuclear Power: Foreign Investment in UK

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, column 36, which foreign companies have invested in the United Kingdom nuclear industries; what the value is of investment in each case; and how many foreign nationals are currently working in the UK nuclear industries.

Malcolm Wicks: It would not be possible except at disproportionate cost to identify every foreign investment and every foreign worker employed in the UK nuclear industries. However, examples of companies which are owned or partly owned by foreign companies include those currently operating the low level waste repository near Drigg in Cumbria and the Magnox sites, and the bidders in the current competition to secure a parent body organisation for the Sellafield site in Cumbria.
	As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said, regardless of nationality the owners of energy companies operating in the UK are subject to the same regulatory conditions as UK owned energy companies.

Renewable Energy: Nuclear Power

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of the planned increase in renewable energy by 2020 will be from nuclear sources.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 2 July 2008
	None. Nuclear and renewables should both be part of the low carbon energy mix the UK needs. But nuclear is not itself a renewable source of energy.

Renewable Energy: Seas and Oceans

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proposals he is  (a) considering and  (b) implementing on electricity generation from marine sources.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 2 July 2008
	The Renewable Energy Strategy public consultation
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/strategy/page43356.html
	launched on 26 June invites interested stakeholders and individuals to submit their ideas and views on the best and most cost-effective way of achieving greater use of renewable energy. Marine technologies, both wave and tidal, form part of this consultation as we look to the role renewable energy will play in the future. We are liaising with key stakeholders in marine technologies during the consultation and will take account of their input as we develop our Renewables Energy Strategy.
	On more specific considerations, we are currently conducting a two-year feasibility study on whether the Government could support a tidal power project in the Severn estuary and on what terms. The study will assess in broad terms the cost, benefits and impact of a project including environmental, social, regional, economic and energy market impacts.
	We are banding the Renewables Obligation to provide more support for technologies which are further from commercial deployment and this Department has recently launched a consultation
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/page46710.html
	on its implementation. This will include providing wave and tidal technologies with 2 ROCs per MWh.
	This is in addition to our initiatives to support R and D through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's 'Supergen Marine' consortium, the Technology Strategy Board, the Energy Technologies Institute and the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund demonstration scheme.
	Recently the Secretary of State granted consent to the South West RDA for wave hub, off North Cornwall—a 20MW capacity wave energy testing facility and to Pulse Tidal Limited for Pulse Tidal Generation device at Upper Burcom in the River Humber—a 0.15MW pre-commercial tidal stream generator device.

Roads: Lighting

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has to amend the regulatory regime affecting connections to electricity supplies for lighting public places and street lighting.

Malcolm Wicks: Regulation of electricity connections falls to Ofgem.
	Ofgem has reviewed competition in connections (2006-07) and the review included discussion of measures to open up competition in relation to un-metered connections
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Networks/Connectns/Pages/Cnnctins.aspx.
	Ofgem also continues to work closely with distribution network operators (DNOs) and local authorities to improve the performance of DNOs in relation to a number of street lighting services. This includes the introduction of minimum performance levels in relation to certain un-metered street lighting services (fault repairs; new works; providing quotations).

Utilities: Billing

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many representations his Department has received opposing surcharges imposed by utilities companies on customers who choose not to pay bills by direct debit.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 20 June 2008
	This Department has identified about 50 representations to Ministers on the issue of surcharges added to the bills of customers of communications companies who pay by means other than direct debit.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Tax: Pensioners

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of  (a) single pensioners and  (b) pensioner couples who lived in homes in each council tax band on the latest date for which figures are available.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 8 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of the number of (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples who lived in homes in each Council Tax band on the latest date for which figures are available (215833).
	The table provided shows an estimate of the number of single adult retired households, and two or more adult retired households in each of England, Scotland, and Wales, by Council Tax band. A retired household is defined as a household where the income of all retired members accounts for more than 50 per cent of the household's total income. These estimates are based on data collected in the Expenditure and Food Survey over the period 2004/05 to 2006/07.
	Separate estimates are shown for England, Scotland, and Wales because Council Tax bands are based on different property valuation bands in each country and therefore there is no strict equivalence between the bands in the three countries. Council Tax bands in both England and Scotland were based on property valuations for April 1991, whereas bands in Wales were revised using valuations for April 2003. In Northern Ireland, Domestic Rates apply rather than Council Tax.
	As these estimates are based on a household survey, they are subject to a degree of sampling error. This is particularly true of the estimates for Scotland and Wales which are based on a smaller sample of households.
	The total number of households in each Council Tax band shown here are different to the figures based on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) valuation list.
	While the Expenditure and Food Survey estimates shown here are grossed to population control totals (expressed in terms of numbers of individuals), the estimated number of households in each band will not be exactly the same as the numbers from the VOA list.
	
		
			  Number of retired households( 1)  by Council Tax band, and country( 2) —2004/05 to 2006/07 
			  Thousand 
			   Type of retired household  
			   Single adult  Two or more adults  All retired households 
			  England
			 Band A 835 403 1,238 
			 Band B 648 412 1,060 
			 Band C 552 527 1,079 
			 Band D 467 575 1,042 
			 
			 Band E 195 369 563 
			 Band F 90 200 290 
			 Band G 48 154 203 
			 Band H 8 14 21 
			 
			 Total 2,843 2,653 5,496 
			  Scotland
			 Band A 94 44 139 
			 Band B 71 66 137 
			 Band C 35 37 72 
			 Band D 35 47 82 
			 
			 Band E 34 39 73 
			 Band F 13 35 48 
			 Band G 9 21 30 
			 Band H 1 3 4 
			 
			 Total 293 292 585 
			 
			  Wales( 3)
			 Band A 41 15 56 
			 Band B 48 27 75 
			 Band C 38 31 69 
			 Band D 43 41 84 
			 
			 Band E 13 21 34 
			 Band F 8 10 18 
			 Band G 2 9 12 
			 Band H 1 2 3 
			 
			 Total 196 156 351 
			 (1) A retired household is defined as a household where the income of all the retired members accounts for more than 50 per cent. of the total household income. (2) These estimates are based on the Expenditure and Food Survey, which uses a sample of households, and therefore the number of households in each Council Tax band will not be strictly consistent with the figures based on the Valuation Office Agency valuation list. (3) Data for Council Tax band T, the highest band which is used in Wales only, are unavailable.  Source: Expenditure and Food Survey, Office for National Statistics

Council Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of households in each household income group who lived in homes in each council tax valuation band on the latest date for which figures are available.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 8 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of the number of households in each household income group who lived in homes in each Council Tax valuation band on the latest date for which figures are available (215830).
	The table provided shows estimates of the number of households in each of England, Scotland and Wales, by household income decile group and Council Tax band. These estimates are based on data collected in the Expenditure and Food Survey over the period 2004/05 to 2006/07.
	Separate estimates are shown for England, Scotland, and Wales because Council Tax bands are based on different property valuation bands in each country and therefore there is no strict equivalence between the bands in the three countries. Council Tax bands in both England and Scotland were based on property valuations for April 1991, whereas bands in Wales were revised using valuations for April 2003. In Northern Ireland, Domestic Rates apply rather than Council Tax.
	The income deciles used in producing these estimates are the same as those used in the ONS analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income'. They are based on a ranking of households according to equivalised disposable household income. This ranking represents all households in the UK.
	As these estimates are based on a household survey, they are subject to a degree of sampling error. This is particularly true of the estimates for Scotland and Wales which are based on a smaller sample of households.
	The total number of households in each Council Tax band shown here are different to the figures based on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) valuation list.
	While the Expenditure and Food Survey estimates shown here are grossed to population control totals (expressed in terms of numbers of individuals), the estimated number of households in each band will not be exactly the same as the numbers from the VOA list.
	
		
			  Number of households by income decile group, council tax band, and country2004-05 to 2006-07 
			  Thousands 
			   Decile groups of all UK households ranked by equivalised disposable income 
			   Bottom  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  Top  H ouseholds 
			  England
			 Band A 632 735 717 604 517 458 353 258 166 62 4,502 
			 Band B 456 490 440 487 452 456 444 330 356 196 4,107 
			 Band C 382 396 393 430 457 471 459 508 451 330 4,276 
			 Band D 322 258 291 328 355 368 465 494 550 548 3,981 
			 Band E 112 96 110 105 140 181 200 294 329 420 1,987 
			 Band F 70 38 42 41 58 74 105 107 143 308 985 
			 Band G 24 19 19 15 26 36 40 73 106 299 658 
			 Band H 1 2 1 2 3 4 3 9 10 57 92 
			 All bands 2,000 2,033 2,014 2,012 2,007 2,048 2,069 2,074 2,112 2,220 20,589 
			  Scotland
			 Band A 61 69 63 68 56 42 31 15 12 2 418 
			 Band B 58 69 68 80 75 52 58 34 29 9 531 
			 Band C '39 27 31 37 34 48 37 42 33 7 336 
			 Band D 18 28 27 30 26 40 40 43 35 21 309 
			 Band E 16 10 14 22 23 20 44 53 51 26 278 
			 Band F 14 10 9 9 11 18 10 21 18 29 149 
			 Band G 4 4 3 0 9 4 8 14 12 48 106 
			 Band H 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 8 13 
			 All bands 212 218 217 246 235 224 226 224 190 150 2,140 
			  Wales( 1)
			 Band A 34 31 26 20 25 13 9 6 5 1 172 
			 Band B 44 39 45 45 45 31 13 21 9 4 294 
			 Band C 20 28 27 29 35 27 30 19 16 3 236 
			 Band D 25 27 31 28 27 29 32 25 31 19 275 
			 Band E 10 9 17 12 14 18 9 15 28 12 142 
			 Band F 5 4 2 0 5 3 8 10 14 10 61 
			 Band G 1 0 • 4 2 3 2 3 8 5 10 39 
			 Band H 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 2 8 
			 All bands 139 138 152 136 155 124 104 104 112 62 1,226 
			 1 Data for council tax band 'I', the highest band which is used in Wales only, are unavailable  Note: These estimates are based on the Expenditure and Food Survey, which uses a sample of households, and therefore the number of households in each council tax band will not be strictly consistent with figures based on the Valuation Office Agency valuation list  Source: Expenditure and Food Survey, Office for National Statistics

Department for Communities and Local Government

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 12 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1397-98W, on the Local Government and Regeneration Division, what  (a) boards,  (b) working groups and  (c) committees there are in each division within her Department other than the Local Government and Regeneration Division.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department's formal governance structures are described in its 2008 annual report. Progress and performance are monitored through programme boards.
	Further to my responses to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1266W and 12 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1397-98W, the main programme boards other than those within the Local Government and Regeneration Group are the Housing Supply Delivery, Homes and Communities Agency, Olympics, Thames Gateway, Cohesion, Preventing Violent Extremism, Migration, Planning, Fire and Rescue Service and Resilience, Group Corporate Services, European Regional Development Fund and Government Office Transformation boards.
	There are smaller boards and various sub-groups and committees beneath these, which look at specific areas of policy. The number and remit of such smaller boards and working groups changes depending on the Department's business at any one time. We do not currently hold a list of these centrally and to compile one could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average cost to her Department was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08.

Parmjit Dhanda: The average costs of staff within the Department's Press Office are:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Paybands 6 and 7 68,151 
			 Payband 5 52,227 
			 Payband 4 37,853 
		
	
	These figures include costs for national insurance and pension payments to the Department as well as salary.

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 539W, on departmental public participation, how much each piece of work cost; and how many respondents there were to each.

Hazel Blears: With reference to the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 539W, the Department undertook 15 polling and survey projects between 29 November and the end of the financial year. These are listed along with the following costs and numbers of respondents for each:
	
		
			  Name of supplier  Polling work  Number of respondents  Costs  (£ excluding VAT) 
			 Andrew Irving Associates Ltd. Quantitative survey on the Code for Sustainable Homes 500 18,000.00 
			  Pre and post tracking research on the effectiveness of the 'Pull your Finger out' fire safety campaign 2,000 33,750.00 
			  Fire Safety Research into the Holiday Accommodation Sector—qualitative group interviews 76 12,000.00 
			 
			 COI Fire fighting careers qualitative research and recommendations 78 60,936.00 
			  Fire Kills Literature Review—qualitative group interviews 254 38,341.00 
			  Fire Kills consumer research and campaign recognition omnibus survey 730 55,000.00 
			  Two Workshops in London and Hull on the importance of the English language to building communities (1)35 17,491.25 
			  Survey of planning professionals about whether Planning Portal services met their needs 828 47,891.51 
			 
			 Cragg Ross Dawson Ltd. Energy Performance of Buildings Directive research 1,062 30,060.50 
			 
			 GFK NOP Ltd. HIPs consumer awareness, qualitative, and omnibus research 3,635 58,530.94 
			  Accountability of local council services—omnibus survey 1,027 1,400.00 
			 
			 TH Seagrove Telephone survey of tenant activists on their awareness etc of landlords work in terms of the Respect agenda 150 1,250.00 
			 
			 IPSOS Mori Third tranche of 2007 employee survey and the production of aggregated results from the full 2007 employee survey (2)516 39,300.00 
			   (3)1,676  
			  Senior Civil Service survey 90 13,500.00 
			  Employee engagement workshop 8 2,250.00 
			 (1) Attendees (2) Third tranche (3 )Aggregated results 
		
	
	In the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 539W, we had added the following information.
	
		
			  Name of supplier  Polling work  Number of respondents  Costs (£ excluding VAT) 
			 Dorset county council Housing related research  — 8,800.00 
		
	
	This was added in error as the work with Dorset county council did not relate to housing related research. The payment related to consultancy support for a Business Improvement Package website. This is part of central Government's support for local government transformation by developing an online resource for tools and change management processes. We are taking steps to clarify the original answer.

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Parmjit Dhanda: Key communications staff for the entire civil service are listed in The White Book, published by the Central Office of Information. This is available in the Library of the House and contains a listing for Members of the Department's Communications Directorate. The book is updated twice yearly.
	Information on some agencies and non-departmental bodies is also held in the White Book. Other data is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Housing: Construction

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions her Department has had with  (a) English Partnerships,  (b) the Housing Corporation and  (c) the Housing and Communities Agency Transition Team on measures for increasing the number of (i) homes and (ii) affordable homes built each year in the last 12 months.

Iain Wright: The Minister for Housing announced on 17 June that she has asked English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation and Sir Bob Kerslake, of the Homes and Communities Agency transition team to work with officials to provide proposals on what more we can do across our programmes to work with registered social landlords, housebuilders and others to minimise the problems we currently face and create the right conditions for rapid recovery.
	Also Housing Corporation and English Partnerships have been asked to review their programmes to ensure that committed schemes are progressed and that programmes are actively managed.
	A package of measures aimed at speeding up procurement and providing flexibility within the Housing Corporation's affordable housing programme was announced on the 2 July.

Housing: Standards

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households in  (a) local authority,  (b) registered social landlord and  (c) private accommodation have been assessed by local authority environmental health officers using the Housing Health and Safety Ratings System since its inception; and how many were found to have a Category 1 hazard.

Iain Wright: The Department does not hold data on the number of Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) inspections carried out by Local authorities.
	Communities and Local Government asked local authorities in England to submit information on dwellings assessed with category one hazards under the housing health and safety ratings system for (a) private, (b) registered social landlords and (c) local authority properties in their 2006-07 annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA). We will be working with local authorities and other stakeholders during 2008 to review the data we are seeking on HHSRS.

Local Authorities: Transport

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account is taken of low carbon travel in the national indicators for local authorities; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Low carbon transport is relevant to the two principal national indicators on climate change mitigation in the new local government performance framework. National Indicator 185, measuring carbon dioxide emissions from local authority operations, includes emissions from the local authority's transport fleet and emissions resulting from vehicles that are not owned or controlled by the local authority where these occur as a consequence of local authority activity (for example, outsourced services). National Indicator 186, on per capita carbon dioxide emissions across a local authority area, captures a wide-range of emissions including those from road transport (with the exception of emissions from motorways over which local authorities have little influence). Under both these indicators, a shift towards lower carbon means of travel can be expected to be reflected in the recorded levels of carbon dioxide emissions.

Parks: Driving Offences

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on enforcement of prohibitions on motorcycles being ridden in parks.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Secretary of State has not issued any specific guidance to local authorities on the enforcement of prohibitions on motorcycles being ridden in parks.
	The Secretary of State is responsible for confirming local authority byelaws. CLG issue model byelaws and guidance notes for use by local authorities. Some of these model byelaws include those which regulate the use of motor propelled vehicles in parks, open spaces, promenades and so on. Guidance notes are issued alongside the model byelaw sets. These are all published on the CLG website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/modelbyelaw
	The relevant guidance notes on the use of motorcycles in parks are the guidance notes to model byelaw set 2—Byelaws for pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces.

Standard of Living: West Midlands

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authority areas in the West Midlands had the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest levels of deprivation in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Healey: Based on the Indices of Deprivation 2007 Birmingham is the most deprived authority in the West Midlands on four of the six local authority measures. Stratford-upon-Avon ranks as the least deprived local authority district in the region.
	The full listing of authorities and their deprivation ranks can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/neighbourhoodrenewal/deprivation/deprivation07/

Sustainable Communities Act 2007

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to disseminate information on the  (a) duties of and  (b) opportunities for local authorities under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Sustainable Communities Act 2007 received Royal Assent on 23 October last year. To disseminate information on the duties and opportunities provided, we have:
	published a guide to the Act in February 2008 which is available on the Communities and Local Government website;
	appointed the Local Government Association as the Selector under the terms of the Act;
	consulted on draft regulations and statutory guidance on the procedures to be followed in relation to proposals under section 2 of the Act. This consultation exercise ran from February 2008 ended in May 2008.
	Following the consultation we intend to publish a response to consultation, publish final guidance—to be included in a package of statutory guidance for the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007—and make and lay the regulations shortly. We also intend to consult over the summer on local spending reports, which are required by section 6 of the Act. The first invitation to local authorities to submit proposals under the Act will be made by 23 October 2008.

Thames Gateway Bridge

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with  (a) the Mayor of London and  (b) Transport for London on the Thames Gateway Bridge; what her policy is on the re-opening of the associated public inquiry; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: There have been no meetings between Ministers or officials from Communities and Local Government Department with the Mayor of London or Transport for London on the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge since the Mayoral elections. The Secretary of State's reasons for re-opening the public inquiry were set out in her letter of 25 July 2007.

HEALTH

Bone Cancer: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on treating bone cancer in young people in Staffordshire in each of the last five years; and what the rate of success was in each year.

Ann Keen: In 2006-07, the national health service spent approximately £4.35 billion on cancer services. Expenditure on bone cancer cannot be separately identified from this figure.
	Survival rates figures for young people in Staffordshire diagnosed with bone cancer are not available.

Bone Diseases: Medical Treatments

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to monitor the policy of primary care trusts in respect of support for the clinical prescribing of anti-tumor necrosis factor remedies for those diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.

Ann Keen: All primary care trusts in England and Wales are obliged to fund, from general allocations, anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy for those patients with severe ankylosing spondylitis who meet the clinical guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). This is effective three months from the date of issue of the guidance by NICE.
	Ensuring compliance with NICE guidance is the responsibility of strategic health authorities, failure risks an adverse report to the Secretary of State from the independent Healthcare Commission. Ultimately, the Secretary of State reserves powers to intervene through the Recovery Support Unit.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the extension of the 31-day treatment standard, as referred to in his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy of 3 December 2007, will include treatments which fall outside the commissioning policies of primary care trusts and require exceptional requests for funding from clinicians.

Ann Keen: The extension to the 31-day cancer waiting time standard introduced by the Cancer Reform Strategy (copies of which have already been placed in the Library) will apply to surgical and drug treatments from December 2008, and radiotherapy and all other treatments from December 2010. All treatments commissioned by the English national health service will fall within the scope of the extended standard.

Cancer: Per Capita Costs

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what per capita public expenditure on cancer care within South Staffordshire NHS primary care trust area was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally.

Care Homes: Buckinghamshire

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) care homes,  (b) residential homes and  (c) nursing homes in (i) Milton Keynes and (ii) Buckinghamshire were ordered to close in each of the last five years; and for what reasons in each case.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the information held centrally with regard to the cancellation of registration of providers of care homes and care homes with nursing in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire is shown in the table.
	In 2004-05, CSCI took action to cancel the registration of a provider who owned two nursing homes, following a number of serious breaches of regulations in one of the homes. In 2005-06, CSCI deregistered a care home when it was sold by the provider.
	
		
			  Providers in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire—cancellations of registration, 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			  Type of home( 1)  Area  2003-04( 2)  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Nursing homes Buckinghamshire — 2 — — — 2 
			 Care homes—personal care only Milton Keynes — — 1 — — 1 
			 Total  — 2 1 — — 3 
			 (1) All care homes are residential. CSCI distinguishes between those providing personal care only, nursing homes (which provide personal care with nursing), and non-medical nursing homes. (2) This data was collected by the National Care Standards Commission. CSCI took over responsibility for regulating care and nursing homes on 1 April 2004.  Notes: 1. Data as at 27 June 2008. 2. Where numbers are not specified, it should be assumed that the return is zero.  Source: CSCI registration and inspection database

Care Homes: Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) primary and  (b) secondary legislation covers the care provided to residents in care homes for the elderly; what changes are planned during the next 12 months; how his Department currently enforces these obligations; what representations he has received since January 2007 on this legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The primary legislation governing the quality and safety of care provided to residents in care homes is the Care Standards Act 2000. The secondary legislation is the National Care Standards Commission (Registration) Regulations 2001 and the Care Homes Regulations 2001.
	The Care Homes Regulations are accompanied by the "Care Homes for Older People National Minimum Standards" (NMS)—aged 65 or over (copies of this publication have already been placed in the Library). The NMS are not statutory requirements—compliance with them is not enforceable. However, compliance with the regulations is, subject to the NMS being taken into account by the regulator, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). The Care Homes Regulations apply to all providers, whether in the private, voluntary or public sectors.
	No changes are planned to the legislation during the next 12 months.
	The Care Standards Act established the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) as the regulator of care homes, with responsibility for enforcement of the regulations. The NCSC began work on 1 April 2002.
	The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 established CSCI as the independent inspectorate for all social care services in England. CSCI was created as a legal entity on 1 January 2004 and became fully operational on 1 April 2004, when the functions of the NCSC were transferred to it.
	CSCI is more independent of Government than the NCSC was. Its Chair and Commissioners are appointed by the NHS Appointments Commission. It presents its annual report direct to Parliament, rather than the Department, and it is not required to act under the general guidance of the Secretary of State.
	CSCI regulates, registers and inspects all social care providers, including care homes, in England. It is unlawful to carry on a care home without being registered, unless the case comes within prescribed exceptions. CSCI has a range of powers, ranging from statutory improvement notices to immediate closure of a service which it uses proportionately to ensure providers comply with regulations.
	Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, all health and adult social care providers that come within the scope of registration will be required to register with the new regulator of health and social care services, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC will be established later this year. It will begin its work in April 2009, when it will assume responsibility for healthcare associated infections in respect of national health service providers and take on the duties of the Mental Health Act Commission. In April 2010, it will assume the responsibilities of CSCI and the Healthcare Commission.
	The establishment of the CQC will give patients and service users confidence in the safety and quality of whichever service they use. For the first time, there will be a single coherent set of national safety and quality requirements and regulations for all providers of health and adult social care services.
	The CQC will embody the Government's principles of good regulation to give people the best and safest care and the best possible outcomes for public money. It will reduce the burden of public service inspection, while applying a coherent approach to regulation for all types of health and adult social care providers.
	The Department has received a range of representations on the regulation of care homes since January 2007. Of particular relevance is the recently conducted formal consultation on the future framework for the registration of health and social care providers.
	A total of around 230 responses was received and officials are now analysing them. A consultation response will be published in due course. Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the consultation response will inform regulations on the scope of regulation and the requirements for registration with the new CQC. It is the intention that these will come into force in 2010.

Dementia: Per Capita Costs

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what per capita public expenditure on dementia care within South Staffordshire NHS primary care trust area was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Dental Services: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many  (a) adults and  (b) children are registered with NHS general dental practices in the South Staffordshire NHS primary care trust area; and how many were registered at Tamworth practices in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what percentage of the  (a) adult and  (b) child population of the South Staffordshire NHS primary care trust area were registered with a dental practitioner in 2007.

Ann Keen: The numbers of patients registered with a national health service dentist as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 are available in Annex A of the "NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006". Information is provided for adults and children by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT). This information is available by constituency at Annex C.
	Information on the numbers of patients registered with an NHS dentist, as a percentage of the population is available in Annex B of this report. Information is provided for adults and children by SHA and by PCT.
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements, which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This Report was published on 23 August 2006, and copies have already been placed in the Library and is also available on the Information Centre for health and social care's website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	Under the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ('patients seen') over a 24-month period. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
	Information on the numbers of patients seen by an NHS dentist in England, over the previous 24-month period, is available in Table CI of Annex 3 of the "NHS Dental Statistics for England: Quarter 3: 31 December 2007" report. Information is available for the 24-month periods ending 31 March 2006, 31 March 2007, 30 June 2007, 30 September 2007, and 31 December 2007. Information is provided for adults and children by SHA and by PCT. Under the new contractual arrangements, information is not available by constituency.
	Information on the numbers of patients seen by an NHS dentist over the previous 24-month period, as a percentage of the population is available in Table C2 of Annex 3. Information is provided for adults and children by SHA and by PCT.
	This report was published on 5 June 2008 and copies have already been placed in the Library and are also available on the IC's website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0708q3
	Both reports have been published by the IC.

Dental Services: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on NHS general dental services in  (a) Tamworth constituency and  (b) Staffordshire in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: For 2006-07, data on primary dental care expenditure can be derived from primary care trust (PCT) accounts. As the data reflects the new contract framework for primary dental care services introduced from 1 April 2006, incorporates all relevant service costs, and is based on the PCT areas introduced from 1 October 2006, it is not directly comparable with the available data prior to 2006. Expenditure on primary dental services in the North and South Staffordshire PCTs in 2006-07 is set out in the following table. However, the PCT accounts do not separately distinguish expenditure by constituency areas.
	
		
			  Expenditure on primary dental care services in North and South Staffordshire PCTs, 2006-07 
			  £000 
			   Gross expenditure  Dental charges paid by patients  Net expenditure 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 6,483 1,818 4,665 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 22,574 5,734 16,840 
			  Source: Calculated from details of gross primary dental care expenditure, and income from dental charges, recorded in the notes to the 2006-07 PCT accounts. 
		
	
	Prior to April 2006, most primary dental services were provided under former general dental services (GDS) arrangements. These were demand led services where the pattern of dental expenditure was largely determined by where dentists chose to practice and how much national health service work they chose to undertake.
	The Information Centre for health and social care holds local-level information on the expenditure for NHS primary dental care under the former GDS and certain equivalent personal dental service arrangements. Expenditure information in cash and real terms (2006-07 prices), for the financial years 1997-98 to 2005-06 is available for the Tamworth constituency and the following PCTs; Newcastle-under-Lyme; Staffordshire Moorlands; Burntwood, Litchfield and Tamworth; Cannock Chase; East Staffordshire; and South Western Staffordshire. This information is contained in the document "Expenditure on General Dental Services and Personal Dental Services in North and South Staffordshire, 1997-98 to 2005-06", copies of which have been placed in the Library.
	Data for Stoke on Trent Teaching PCT has not been included as it falls largely within the area of the Stoke on Trent unitary authority.

Dental Services: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent NHS general dental practitioners there are in  (a) Tamworth constituency and  (b) Staffordshire; and how many there were in each of the last two years.

Ann Keen: The number of national health service dentists on primary care trust (PCT) lists in England, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 is available in Annex E of the "NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006" report. The information is provided by strategic health authority (SHA) and by PCT. Annex G of the report provides this information by constituency. This information is based on the old contractual arrangements which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006.
	This report was published by the Information Centre for health and social care (IC), on 23 August 2006, copies have already been placed in the Library and are also available on the Information Centre for health and social care's website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006.
	The number of dentists on open NHS contracts in England as at 30 June 2006, 30 September 2006, 31 December 2006, and 31 March 2007 are available in Table El of Annex 3 of the "NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07" report. This information is based on the new contractual arrangements introduced on 1 April 2006. The information is provided by SHA and by PCT. Information by constituency is not available under the new contractual arrangements.
	This report was published by the IC, on 23 August 2007, and copies have already been placed in the Library and are also available on the IC's website at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607.
	The numbers quoted are headcounts and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.
	The methodology for counting and reporting the NHS dental workforce is currently under review. The review, led by analysts at the IC and the statistical directorate of the Welsh Assembly Government, working in liaison with the Dental Services Division of the NHS Business Services Authority, aims to ensure that following the first year of the new dental contractual arrangements, the figures provide an appropriate measure of the workforce.
	The workforce data provided in the "NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07" report will therefore remain the latest available until this review is complete. The review is currently at consultation stage which is due to end on 11 July 2008.
	The IC intends to publish workforce data in the "NHS Dental Statistics for England, 2007-08" report. This is due to be published on 21 August 2008.
	The IC also intends to publish the "Dental Working Hours: England & Wales, 2006-07 & 2007-08" report on the same day.

Diabetes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of emotional and psychological support to people diagnosed with diabetes.

Ann Keen: We recognise the important role emotional and psychological support has in enabling people with diabetes to self-manage their condition on a day-to-day basis. The Department is working in collaboration with Diabetes UK to identify what needs to be done to enable the national health service and local care services to meet the psychological and emotional needs of all people with diabetes.

Doctors: Housing

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on charging junior doctors for their accommodation.

Ann Keen: The policy is as set out in the "Terms and Conditions of Service of Hospital Medical and Dental Staff and doctors in Public Health Medicine and the Community Health Service in England and Wales (September 2003 as amended)", which reflect the contractual arrangements negotiated with the British Medical Association; copies of this publication are available in the Library. The provisions vary depending on circumstances. Where a junior doctor is required to be resident, no charge will be made. Where a non-resident junior doctor is required to stay overnight in hospital as part of an on-call rota or partial shift system they are required to pay a proportion of the lodging charge depending on their length of stay. Where there is no requirement to be resident, junior doctors may be charged for accommodation in the same way as other national health service staff. Full details can be found in paragraphs 173-183 of the terms and conditions.

Doctors: Housing

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions  (a) he and  (b) his ministerial colleagues have had with NHS acute trusts in London on the provision of NHS accommodation for junior doctors; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: No discussions have been had with London national health service acute trusts in London about junior doctor accommodation. The provision of accommodation is dependent on the type of contract a junior doctor has. National terms and conditions provide that, where a doctor is required to be resident, no charge will be made for accommodation. We are not aware of any trusts in London who are failing to comply with these terms.

Doctors: Housing

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was to each NHS acute trust in the London strategic health authority area of housing junior doctors in NHS-provided accommodation in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Doctors: Housing

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of junior doctors were housed in NHS-provided accommodation in each NHS acute trust in the London strategic health authority area in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Doctors: Housing

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance will be provided by the NHS to Foundation House Officer 1s requiring help in finding accommodation for their four month placements.

Ann Keen: Junior doctors can use the same facilities available to other national health service staff to find accommodation. Arrangements vary locally, but the majority of trusts are likely to have either an accommodation office or an officer available to help staff find accommodation. There is also a national NHS housing website for staff to use to search accommodation, which trusts and local agencies access. This can be found at:
	www.housing.nhs.uk/

Doctors: Housing

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of the removal of free hospital accommodation for junior doctors on the recruitment of medical students from lower socio-economic backgrounds; and what steps he plans to take to prevent any negative effects.

Ann Keen: We have not removed free accommodation for junior doctors. We have removed the statutory requirement for all first year junior doctors to be resident. Where individual junior doctors are contractually required to be resident, they will continue to receive free accommodation. Where they are not, it is entirely appropriate that they are treated in exactly the same way as other national health service staff. Medical student recruitment remains strong. The "Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration" (DDRB) stated in their 37(th) report (2008), that they were
	"pleased to note that there continues to be a more than adequate number of good quality applicants to study medicine, which as we have previously commented, is strong evidence that medicine is seen as an attractive career"
	Copies of the DDRB's 37(th) report have already been placed in the Library.

Doctors: Housing

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2008,  Official Report, column 56W, on doctors: housing, what  (a) data and  (b) methodology his Department and NHS employers used to determine the estimate of the number of junior doctors not provided with NHS-funded accommodation included in his Department's evidence to the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body in 2007.

Ann Keen: The Department made no estimate of the number of junior doctors not provided with national health service-funded accommodation for its 2007 Evidence to the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration. Until August 2007, all first year junior doctors were statutorily required to be resident and therefore had free accommodation provided. Free accommodation continues to be provided for those who are contractually required to be resident. The Department's evidence did include reference to reports that a third of those junior doctors who were eligible for free accommodation did not use it. This was based on an estimate from NHS Employers, who stated in its evidence that
	"some third of all FYl trainees provided with free residence chose not to occupy it in 2006-07"
	We understand that final numbers suggest that this figure was nearer to a quarter.

Doctors: Housing

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the right to free hospital accommodation for junior doctors has not been incorporated into their terms and conditions of service; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The terms and conditions of service for junior doctors do incorporate the right to free accommodation for those who are contractually required to be resident. These terms and conditions have been in place since December 2000.

Doctors: Working Hours

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2008,  Official Report, column 506W, on doctors: working hours, which members states  (a) supported and  (b) did not support the proposed amendment of the Working Time Directive.

Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following list.
	 Supported amendments
	Austria
	Bulgaria
	Czech Republic
	Denmark
	Estonia
	Finland
	France
	Germany
	Ireland
	Italy
	Latvia
	Lithuania
	Luxembourg Netherlands
	Poland
	Romania
	Slovakia
	Slovenia
	Sweden;
	United Kingdom.
	 Opposed amendments or abstained
	Belgium
	Cyprus
	Greece
	Spain
	Hungary
	Portugal
	Malta.
	 Notes:
	1. The voting in the European Council was complex, covering both the EWTD and agency workers directives, and it was not absolutely clear which member states were abstaining or voting against the proposals. This was not significant because there was a clear qualified majority in favour of the proposals.
	2. If the voting issue in note one is clarified by the European Council Secretariat or the presidency, this information will be forwarded to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien)

General Practitioners: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average remuneration per full-time equivalent NHS general dental practitioner is in  (a) Tamworth and  (b) Staffordshire; and what it was in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: Average remuneration per full-time equivalent national health service general dental practitioner in the South Staffordshire primary care trust area alone, is not identifiable from the data held centrally.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for hospital treatment was in  (a) Milton Keynes,  (b) Buckinghamshire and  (c) England in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Average in-patient waiting time for organisations covering Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and England; 1997 to present 
			  Median wait (weeks) 
			   Organisations covering:  
			  Period ending March:  Milton Keynes  Buckinghamshire  England 
			 1997 n/a 15.5 13.2 
			 1998 n/a 18.0 14.9 
			 1999 n/a 14.8 12.9 
			 2000 n/a 14.8 12.9 
			 2001 n/a 12.2 12.6 
			 2002 n/a 13.3 12.7 
			 2003 11.5 11.3 11.9 
			 2004 9.6 10.0 10.2 
			 2005 8.0 7.8 8.5 
			 2006 6.8 7.4 7.3 
			 2007 5.3 5.4 6.2 
			 2008 4.1 4.2 4.5 
			 n/a = Not applicable.  Notes: 1. Organisations covering Milton Keynes: N/A, 1997-2002 (part of Buckinghamshire Health Authority (HA)); Milton Keynes PCT, 2003-08; 2. Organisations covering Buckinghamshire: Buckinghamshire HA; 1997-2002 Chilton and South Buckinghamshire PCT, Milton Keynes PCT, Vale of Aylesbury PCT, Wycombe PCT; 2003-06 Buckinghamshire PCT, Milton Keynes PCT, 2007-08 3. Figures show the median waiting times for patients still waiting at the end of the period. 4. Inpatient waiting times are measured from decision to admit by the consultant to admission to hospital. 5. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits.  Source: QFO1 and Monthly Monitoring (Commissioner based)

Lung Cancer

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Healthcare Commission on  (a) increasing the level of data collection on lung cancer and  (b) including outcome data on lung cancer as part of the annual healthcheck.

Ann Keen: The National Clinical Audit Support program (NCASP), which is part of the Information Centre for health and social care, and the Royal College of Physicians manage the National Lung Cancer Audit (LUCADA). They have proposed that the Healthcare Commission include specific participation in the national cancer audits, including the LUCADA, as part of the annual health check. They have also recommended key performance measures including: data completeness; histological confirmation rates; and key treatment rates (such as surgical resection).
	NCASP provided data on crude treatment rates on lung cancer as part of the annual health check in 2007. Case-mix adjusted data on treatment rates and survival should be available by hospital in the next annual report, due to be published at the end of this year.

Lung Cancer

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to include indicators of quality of care and clinical outcomes for lung cancer patients in the commissioning process.

Ann Keen: The Cancer Network teams will act as agents for commissioners and, in line with world class commissioning, will maintain dialogues with clinical teams and users, driving high quality care. The networks will also engage with providers to ensure required clinical outcomes are achieved and to drive continuous improvement.

Lung Cancer

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of trusts participated in the National Lung Cancer Audit for 2007; what steps he has taken to encourage trusts and cancer networks to participate in the National Lung Cancer Audit for 2008; and what sanctions he is able to place on trusts which do not participate in the audit;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to encourage hospital trusts and strategic health authorities to contribute patients' data to the National Lung Cancer Audit for 2008.

Ann Keen: Participation in the 2007 National Lung Cancer Audit has yet to be ascertained. The data for 2007 will not be published before December 2008.
	The Information Centre for health and social care (IC) gives strong encouragement to hospitals and networks to participate in the national lung cancer audit. However, participation in national audits is not mandatory and so there are no sanctions that can be placed on trusts that do not participate in the National Lung Cancer Audit. Participation is encouraged by the National Cancer Peer Review Process and is used by the Healthcare Commission as evidence of compliance with Core Standards.
	Reports on audit participation in previous years have been provided to strategic health authorities, and copies of the last annual report were sent to the chief executives of all trusts that treat lung cancer patients. The IC has developed local action plans to help improve data quality and outcomes, and these have been sent to trusts and cancer networks.

Lung Cancer

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase awareness of the symptoms of lung cancer among  (a) healthcare professionals and  (b) members of the public.

Ann Keen: In December 2007, the Cancer Reform Strategy (copies of which have already been placed in the Library) established the National Awareness and Early Detection Initiative, led by the National Cancer Director. In order to co-ordinate a programme of activity to support local interventions to increase cancer symptom awareness among healthcare professionals and the general public, the initiative is bringing together and collaborating with representatives of local authorities, the Department, the National Cancer Research Institute, cancer charities and patient representatives. The initiative, which is in the early stages of development, will co-ordinate a programme of activity to support local interventions to increase cancer symptom awareness. We will be involving professionals such as pharmacists and social workers, as we develop the initiative.
	In 2005, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published updated guidance for general practitioners and primary healthcare professionals on when a patient should be urgently referred to a specialist for investigation of suspected cancer. The National Cancer Research Institute will be exploring how to further support healthcare professionals in spotting potential cancer symptoms.
	We will be establishing a national audit in primary care of all patients newly diagnosed with cancer to understand more about the nature and extent of delays in cancer diagnosis. Its findings will be used to decide how best to provide more support to primary care professionals to ensure early diagnosis of cancer.
	In addition, the Department's Lung Cancer Awareness Month Working Group has revised its key messages about the signs and symptoms of lung cancer. It is strongly promoting the message that early detection of lung cancer can save lives.

Lung Cancer: Research

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been provided from the NHS research and development budget into research into lung cancer in each financial year since 1997-98; what research has been funded by such expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's research and development budget has been allocated to and managed by national health service organisations. Those organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations they have received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on national priority areas, including cancer. They do not provide details of research into particular cancer sites.
	The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), a United Kingdom wide partnership between Government, charities and industry, makes cancer research information available online via the International Cancer Research Portfolio database at:
	www.cancerportfolio.org.
	Details of current departmental and Medical Research Council site-specific cancer research can be found through this database.
	The NCRI report "Lung Cancer research in the UK 2006" offered an analysis of the reasons for the historically low levels of investment in lung cancer research and made proposals for increasing its scale. Copies of this report have been placed in the Library.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 116-7W, on medical records: data protection, what his definition of a health community is.

Ben Bradshaw: In my previous answer, the term local health community was used to designate all clinicians, managers and other staff of general practitioner practices, primary care trusts and national health service trusts involved in the management and provision of NHS health care for patients within a geographical area agreed by the constituent organisations.

Medical Treatments: Finance

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many recommendations the National Commissioning Group has made on national funding for ultra-orphan therapies; whether his Department may overturn any decisions made by the National Specialised Commissioning Group on the funding of ultra orphan therapies; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The National Commissioning Group (NCG) met in June and made a recommendation to the National Specialised Commissioning Group (NSCG) that the service for patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria met their criteria for national commissioning. This application includes treatment of the condition with a newly licensed ultra-orphan drug, eculizumab. The NSCG will make recommendations about additions to the national commissioning portfolio at its meeting in July.
	Ministers carefully consider the advice of the NCG and the NSCG and make final decisions about any proposed changes to the national specialised commissioning portfolio.

Medical Treatments: Finance

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what systems his Department has in place to prevent geographical variations in prescribing of novel and unique drug therapies for rare disorders which are not appraised by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence has to appraise ultra-orphan therapies; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: In December 2006, the Government re-issued Good Practice Guidance on Managing the Introduction of New Healthcare Interventions and links to NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance to the local national health service, which states that funding for treatments should not be withheld simply because guidance from the national Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is unavailable but that decisions should be made on the basis of the available evidence. The Guidance also suggests alternative sources of information for NHS organisations to consult in the absence of NICE guidance. Copies of the guidance have already been placed in the Library.
	The draft NHS constitution makes clear the patient's right to expect local decisions on funding for drugs for which NICE guidance is not available to be made rationally following proper consideration of the evidence. Where the local NHS decides not to fund a treatment, the patient and clinician can expect an explanation. To underpin this, the Government will require primary care trusts to put in place clear and transparent arrangements both for local decision-making on funding of new drugs and for considering exceptional funding requests, and to publish information on those arrangements.
	NICE has already appraised a number of orphan drugs but a separate appraisal system for ultra-orphan drugs has not been established. This position is kept under review in the context of other developments relating to the Government's policy on new drugs.

Medical Treatments: Finance

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what procedures and under what authority specialist commissioning groups assess funding for ultra-orphan therapies; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: specialised commissioning groups (SCGs) are joint-committees of primary care trusts (PCTs) and draw their authority to commission healthcare services from that of their constituent PCTs. The responsibility for considering the funding of new drugs or treatments rests with individual PCTs and SCGs. Commissioners must balance local pressures and priorities for existing services and new developments, taking account of the available evidence of cost and clinical effectiveness.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates the Spine functionality has failed  (a) locally and  (b) nationally; and for how long the failure lasted in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: The 'spine' is the colloquial name given to the national database of key information about patients' health and care. It forms the core of the NHS Care Records Service. It also supports other key elements of the national programme for IT (NPfIT), such as choose and book, the electronic prescriptions service, the summary care record and 'GP to GP' record transfer, each of them using the spine's messaging functionality as part of their own services.
	Reports of service incidents for investigation fall into five levels of severity, ranging from those which have a significant adverse impact on the provision of the service (severity 1), to those comprising mere cosmetic flaws, for example on-screen misalignment of data (severity 5). They may involve intermittent failures or be unnoticed by the user since other, associated application functionality is unaffected. Similarly, the service incidents that do occur do not usually affect all users and may be quite localised.
	A breakdown of reported incidents by date and whether these were a result of a national service incident or were as a result of local circumstances, together with the period of service interruption, could be provided only at disproportionate cost. There is no evidence of any service incident having had a material impact on the quality of patient care.
	The service availability levels required under the spine contract are exceptionally demanding compared with those for information technology systems that preceded NPfiT. Since the first spine applications went live in July 2004, overall service availability has typically been continuously either at 100 per cent, or very close to 100 per cent, across the whole range of spine services. Details of service availability for spine services, measured against contracted target availability, is routinely published, and updated weekly, on the NHS Connecting for Health website at:
	www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/newsroom/statistics/availability/ncrs_stats.

Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that patients and clinicians at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre are consulted on proposals put forward by the South Central Strategic Health Authority to merge the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre with another health organisation;
	(2)  what assessment the South Central strategic health authority has made of the  (a) clinical and  (b) financial effects of a merger of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre with another health organisation.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 7 July 2008
	Decisions about the future of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust are a matter for the local national health service. The information requested about South Central strategic health authority's (SHA's) assessment of the clinical and financial effects of a merger between the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and another health organisation is not collected centrally.
	The SHA has advised that it is committed to working with its partners in the local health care economy to identify a model which secures the future delivery of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust services. The hon. Member may therefore wish to raise these issues with the chief executive of South Central strategic health authority.
	NHS organisations have a legal obligation to involve and consult patients and the public in the planning of services, development of proposals for change and consideration of proposals affecting the operation of services. Separately, where it is agreed that the proposals to reconfigure services include any significant change to the way services are provided, local trusts have a duty to consult with the relevant overview and scrutiny committee (OSC). Following the consultation period, the NHS organisations will have to make a decision on the best way forward. Local OSCs have the power to review and scrutinise health services from the perspective of their local populations, and can refer proposals to the Secretary of State if they believe the plans are not in the interests of the health service. Ultimately, however, the configuration of health care services in a particular area is a decision that needs to be taken at a local level.

Organs: Donors

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he plans to make to the recommendations contained in the report from the Organ Donation Taskforce; and whether he has made an estimate of the  (a) costs and  (b) number of intensive care beds associated with implementation.

Ann Keen: The Government are committed to implementing the Organ Donation Taskforce recommendations and have allocated £11 million for 2008-09 to support this work. This includes funding for the reimbursement of trusts facilitating donation. Funding for years 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be agreed as part of the normal annual business planning process.
	A Programme Delivery Board, Chaired by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh (NHS Medical Director) and comprising of key organ donation stakeholder organisations, has been established to determine how each of the Organ Donation Taskforce recommendations can be taken forward and evaluate the resources required. The estimation of the numbers of intensive care beds associated with implementation will be conducted as part of this work.

Radiotherapy: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for radiotherapy treatment in South Staffordshire NHS primary care trust area was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information about average waiting times for different types of cancer treatment, including radiotherapy, is not collected centrally. Cancer waiting times standards were introduced for all cancer patients from December 2005. They are a maximum wait of 31 days from diagnosis to first cancer treatment and a maximum wait of 62 days from urgent referral for suspected cancer to first cancer treatment. In the last quarter (January to March 2008), performance against these standards in England was 99.5 per cent. and 96.8 per cent. respectively.

Social Services

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has made to monitor the implementation of individual care plans for people with long-term conditions outlined in the Our Health, Our Care, Our Say White Paper; and what incentives he plans to introduce for the implementation of such plans.

Ann Keen: The Department is currently developing a range of options to measure and incentivise the delivery and impact of care planning including the use of patient surveys to monitor patient experience at a local level.

Strokes: Health Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce early death rates for stroke victims.

Ann Keen: Stroke mortality is falling. For people under 65, the three-year average death rate from stroke has fallen by 23 per cent. over the period from 1993-95 to 2002-04. For people aged 65 to 75 the death rate has dropped by 30 per cent. over the same period.
	The 'National Stroke Strategy', published on 5 December, sets out a framework for care of people who have had a stroke (copies of the strategy have already been placed in the Library). By following the recommendations in the strategy, up to 1,600 strokes could be prevented each year, with outcomes improved for another 6,800 people. Based around four key areas, the strategy looks to raise awareness of stroke, improve acute care, improve after hospital care and support, and develop a stroke skilled work force.
	This is a 10-year strategy but we expect to see a significant improvement in stroke services in the next three years.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Equal Opportunities: Public Bodies

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment she has made of whether Government-funded organisations have implemented the gender equality duty; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the duty is implemented.

Barbara Follett: The gender duty came into effect in April 2007 and I am pleased with the progress made and good practice put in place since then. However, although the duty's overall impact is positive, public bodies could use it more to improve the services they offer to both men and women.
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission is monitoring the progress made by public bodies in meeting their obligations under the gender duty and continues to offer advice to how best to do this. The Commission's main aim is to help public bodies meet their statutory obligations but, where they consistently fail to do so, it will institute legal obligation.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when she plans to answer the letter of 22 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, on Miss Rena Wood, transferred from the Home Department.

Barbara Follett: A reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 9 June.

PRIME MINISTER

Chequers

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North Norfolk of 29 January 2008,  Official Report, column 286W, on Chequers, whether the information on hospitality provided at Chequers in 2007-08 is ready for publication.

Gordon Brown: Information on official hospitality held at Chequers will be published in due course.

Dalai Lama

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Prime Minister in what venues either he or his predecessors met the Dalai Lama in the last 30 years.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Members for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) and Worthing, West (Peter Bottomley) on 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 300W.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister how long on average his office took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Gordon Brown: My office aims to answer all ordinary written parliamentary questions (PQs) within five working days, and named day written PQs on the day named. Since the start of the current parliamentary Session 97 per cent. of named day PQs and 81 per cent. of ordinary written PQs were answered on time. Information for previous parliamentary Sessions is a matter of public record and can be found in the  Official Report.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in (i) his Department and (ii) the agencies for which he is responsible in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: Within the Northern Ireland Office there are no members of staff undertaking, or who have undertaken,  (a) apprenticeships or  (b) advanced apprenticeships in the most recent year.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the  (a) scheduled date and  (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by his Department and its agencies which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.

Shaun Woodward: From the records available over the last 10 years the Northern Ireland Office and its agencies did not cancel any conferences proposed to be hosted by this Department.

Departmental Home Working

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department are authorised to work from home.

Shaun Woodward: Some members of staff in the Northern Ireland Office work from home as and when circumstances allow and with prior agreement from their local management, but we do not hold the numbers centrally.
	The Department is currently examining whether it would be possible to expand these arrangements bearing in mind the additional cost, security and health and safety issues.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its executive agencies in the last 24 months.

Shaun Woodward: During the period 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2008, 17 departmental passes were reported lost. Of these two were lost by staff working in executive agencies. None were reported stolen.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fixed speed cameras are in operation in each council area in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Safety Camera Scheme has currently four fixed site speed cameras and two SPECS (average speed) Systems in operation. This is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Council area  Type  Number of cameras  Location 
			 Castlereagh Fixed 2 Upper Newtownards Road, Saintfield Road 
			 Belfast Fixed 2 Antrim Road, Springfield Road 
			 Newry and Mourne SPECS 1 Al Duel Carriageway (North and South of Newry City) 
			 North Down SPECS 1 A2 Belfast to Bangor Road 
		
	
	In addition there are eight mobile camera vans operating at 65 signed routes and sites across Northern Ireland.

JUSTICE

Approved Premises

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy that local residents be consulted before a bail hostel is established in their area;
	(2)  how many bail hostels  (a) are planned and  (b) were set up in the last year for which records are available in (i) Castle Point constituency and (ii) Essex.

David Hanson: The accommodation provided by ClearSprings for defendants on bail and for offenders released on Home Detention Curfew is not hostel accommodation, but normal residential housing with up to five people sharing. The houses are the private rented homes of those occupying them. It is not appropriate to consult the public about where those released from prison, or bailed by the Courts to live in their own homes, may live. ClearSprings is required to consult the police, probation and local authority about the location of the housing they provide. It is our policy to seek planning permission for approved premises, which are hostels.
	No ClearSprings housing for the Bail Accommodation and Support Service has been established in Castle Point or elsewhere in Essex. However, the Regional Offender Manager for East of England has asked ClearSprings to source properties as soon as possible in or near Chelmsford (three beds), Colchester (three beds), Harlow (four beds) and Southend (two x three beds). It is expected that there will also be a need to find a property in the Basildon area in future.

Coroners

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions a coroner acting under Rule 5 of the Coroners (Practice and Procedure) Rules (NI) 1963 exercised his power to exclude the public from an inquest in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The power to exclude the public from an inquest has not been exercised by coroners since April 2006, when the new Coroners Service for Northern Ireland was established.
	Before the Coroners Service for Northern Ireland was established in April 2006, coroners did not have computerised systems to assist them and therefore the information is not held centrally and could be provided by manually checking paper records only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental ICT

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of his Department's staff have access to the Department's IT infrastructure at home.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice has just over 4,000 members of staff with encrypted computers and related equipment which enables them to work securely from home.

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many reviews of regulation  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have (i) conducted and (ii) commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice has not conducted any review of regulation since July 2007 but has commenced three reviews of regulation since that date. These are:
	(a) A Review of the Thirty Year Rule (Public Records Act);
	(b) The Walport/Thomas Review of Data Protection and Data Sharing (Data Protection Act); and
	(c) Review of fee for a personal search of the local land charges register.
	We are also currently considering the appropriate timing for post legislative scrutiny of three Acts that received Royal Assent in 2005:
	(a) Constitutional Reform Act 2005
	(b) Mental Capacity Act 2005
	(c) Inquiries Act 2005
	We will be agreeing the handling of these reviews with the Justice Select Committee.
	No separate reviews of regulation have been conducted nor commenced by the agencies of the Ministry of Justice since July 2007.
	The Ministry of Justice's progress against the Better Regulation agenda is contained in the Ministry's Simplification Plan for 2007, published on our website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/moj-simp-plan.pdf

Drugs: Crime

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted for the third time of  (a) trafficking class A drugs and  (b) domestic burglary in each of the last five years; and what proportion of each received the mandatory minimum sentence applicable.

Jack Straw: The following table shows the number of people sentenced to the mandatory minimum for a third class A drug trafficking offence and third domestic burglary, under section 110 and 111 of the Power of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act (2000).
	
		
			  Table 2.6 Persons sentenced under the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, 2000 to 2006. England and Wales 
			  Number of persons 
			   Section 110: Minimum 7 years for third class A drug trafficking offence  Section 111: Minimum 3 years for third domestic burglary 
			 2000 2 — 
			 2001 1 6 
			 2002 — 2 
			 2003 3 13 
			 2004 4 46 
			 2005 3 89 
			 2006 7 229 
			  Note: Section 109 was replaced on 4 April 2005 by sentences of imprisonment for public protection. Figures therefore relate to offences committed prior to that date. 
		
	
	These are numbers recorded by courts as receiving the mandatory sentence. As the Courts Proceedings Database does not include criminal histories we are not able to identify those convicted for a third time that were not given the mandatory minimum from this data source.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1433W, on the fairtrade initiative, how much his Department spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of this total was spent on Fair Trade products.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice does not hold central records of the amount spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements. Therefore, we cannot calculate the percentage of Fairtrade produce as a total of this expenditure. This information could be obtained by manually contacting each division only at disproportionate cost.

Firearms: Sentencing

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have received the mandatory five year sentence for being in possession of a firearm in the last five years.

David Hanson: The following table shows the number of persons sentenced to immediate custody for possession of an illegal firearm eligible for the mandatory minimum, and the proportion who received the mandatory minimum.
	Statistics for 2007 will be published in autumn 2008.
	
		
			  Persons( 1)  sentenced to mandatory five-year custodial sentence for firearms possession offences( 2) , all courts, England and Wales, 2004 - 06 
			  Number of persons and percentage of total 
			   Total persons sentenced  Persons given immediate custody  Of which:  five years or over( 3)  Percentage of total sentenced 
			 2004(4) 736 251 81 11.0 
			 2005 385 242 146 37.9 
			 2006 281 212 141 50.2 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition or firearm disguised as other object. Firearms Act 1968 sections 5(1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af) or (c) and section 5(1A)(a) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 section 287. (3) Three years in the case of persons aged 16-17. (4) Many of the persons dealt with in 2004 will have committed their offences prior to the mandatory sentence being introduced in January 2004.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.  Source: OMS Analytical Services

Judges: Official Residences

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 879W, on judges: official residences, what the addresses were in respect of which the expenditure was made.

Maria Eagle: The answer to which the right hon. Gentleman refers did not refer to official residences but to the domestic residences of judicial office holders, as was made clear at the time.
	In the interests of security, the private addresses of judicial office holders where protective security work has been carried out are not made public.

Ministerial Duties

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of his working week is taken up in duties arising from his role and responsibilities as Lord Chancellor.

Jack Straw: The proportion of my time taken up in duties arising from my role and responsibilities as Lord Chancellor, and that taken up in duties arising from my role and responsibilities as Secretary of State for Justice, varies greatly day to day and week to week depending on the issues which present themselves.
	The breakdown of my responsibilities in each office is shown in the following list. The functions listed in italics are entrenched functions of the Lord Chancellor, that is they cannot be transferred to another Minister without legislation.
	 Division of responsibilities between the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Justice as at 1 November 2007
	Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor are two legally separate ministerial offices, albeit combined in one person. Great Seal, judiciary-related and judicial appointment functions are entrenched in the Lord Chancellorship, and cannot be transferred by order under the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975, These are shown in italics in the following list. There are no entrenched functions in the Secretary of State.
	 Lord Chancellor
	 Custody and exercise of the Great Seal.
	 Judicial appointments and all matters related to the judiciary and lay magistracy, including titles, pay, pensions, conduct and discipline.
	 Procedural rules, appointments to rule committees/advisory councils, fees as applicable in Criminal Justice, Civil Justice, Family Justice and Administrative Justice.
	 HM Court Services (i . e . administrative systems, staff, services and accommodation, for the Supreme Court of England and Wales (including the crown courts and district probate registries), the county courts and the magistrates courts).
	The Tribunals Service
	The Land Registry
	 The Northern Ireland Court Service
	The Law Commission
	Public records
	The National Archives
	The Crown Dependencies
	Royal and hereditary matters
	Legal aid
	 Regulation of the Legal Professions
	 Secretary of State for Justice
	National Offender Management Service, including the prison and probation services
	Criminal law and sentencing policy
	Sponsorship of relevant inspectorates and NDPBs, including the Prison Service, Parole Board, Youth Justice Board.
	Devolution.
	Data Protection.
	Freedom of Information.
	Human Rights.
	Electoral Law.

Prisoners: Personal Property

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what procedure is in place for recording and storing prisoners' personal property  (a) in the prisoner's possession upon arrival in prison and  (b) sent to prisoners during their custody.

Maria Eagle: Guidance on prisoners' in-possession property is contained in PSO 1250 (a copy of which is in the Library). All property either accompanying a prisoner into prison or sent to them during their custody must be searched in reception and recorded on the appropriate property record card.
	The amount of property that a prisoner may retain in their possession is limited by the policy on volumetric control which restricts prisoners to that which can be fitted into two standard size volumetric control boxes.
	It is for prison governors to decide locally what items prisoners are allowed to retain in their possession bearing in mind what they consider appropriate for their local circumstances and to fit in with their locally devised Incentive and Earned Privileges scheme. Any surplus property will either be stored locally in the prison or sent to the HM Prison Service National Distribution Centre at Branston until 28 days before the prisoner is due to be released when the holding prison should request that the property be sent to them in preparation for discharge.

Prisoners: Personal Property

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many items of prisoners'  (a) clothing and  (b) other property were stored by each prison in England and Wales between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008; how many such items were reported (i) lost, (ii) damaged and (iii) stolen during that year; and what sum of compensation has been paid by the Prison Service for the loss, damage or theft of personal property in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: The Prison Service does not keep a central record of the amount of prisoners' clothing and property that is stored by each prison and to provide this information would involve both the individual scrutiny of a substantial amount of documents at each prison and a large data collecting exercise—this could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	The Prison Service also does not keep a central record of the number of items that prisoners report lost, damaged or stolen; again, such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	A breakdown of the compensation the Prison Service has paid over the last 10 years to prisoners for damaged or lost property is set out in the following tables. In capturing the information the Prison Service does not distinguish between prisoners' lost or stolen property.
	
		
			  Damaged property 
			   Number of cases  Compensation (£) 
			 2007-08 270 14,236.13 
			 2006-07 320 17,039.53 
			 2005-06 297 19,619.27 
			 2004-05 254 9,284.70 
			 2003-04 332 10,130.96 
			 2002-03 293 16,239.95 
			 2001-02 324 18,861.78 
			 2000-01 302 18,242.67 
			 1999-2000 322 15,037.08 
			 1998-99 378 16,575.80 
		
	
	
		
			  Lost property 
			   Number of cases  Compensation  (£) 
			 2007-08 1,730 106,400.77 
			 2006-07 1,533 100,206.56 
			 2005-06 1,537 109,807.22 
			 2004-05 1,359 89,772.56 
			 2003-04 1,646 102,022.56 
			 2002-03 1,784 111,658.83 
			 2001-02 1,546 81,566.78 
			 2000-01 1,429 68,090.22 
			 1999-2000 1,218 92,952.55 
			 1998-99 1,277 79,274.18

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisoner on staff assaults there were in each of the last five years, listed by prison;
	(2)  how many prisoner-on-staff assaults were  (a) referred to and  (b) investigated by police forces in each of the last five years, listed by prison.

Jack Straw: Table 1 shows incidents of prisoner on staff assaults in each of the last five years by prison.
	The information set out is subject to important qualifications. The National Offender Management Service Incident Reporting System processes high volumes of data which are constantly being updated. The numbers provide a good indication of overall numbers but should not be interpreted as absolute.
	Assault information is recorded at establishment level in four categories: Prisoner on Prisoner, Prisoner on Officer, Other (including miscellaneous assault information) and Prisoner on Other. The recorded incidents of assaults on prison officers are not completely exclusive to officers; establishment recording sometimes includes assaults on other prison staff in this category. Rises or falls in reported numbers from one year to the next are not a good indicator of an underlying trend for a particular prison. Additionally there have been improvements in reporting over the years, and this is reflected in the tables.
	Assault data are complex and the numbers need to be interpreted with caution. Information recorded as assault incidents may involve one or many prisoners as some assault incidents may involve more than one assailant or more than one victim. Additionally in a proportion of incidents only the victim is known.
	The numbers supplied refer to the number of individual assault incidents. The numbers refer to all incidents recorded as assaults; these may also include threatening behaviour, projection of bodily fluids and other non-contact events and allegations.
	The category 'Prisoner on Other' contains few entries but these may include prison staff as well as visitors, legal visitors etc. For the purpose of this response the categories 'Prisoner on Officer' and 'Prisoner on Other' are used.
	
		
			  Table 1: Prisoner on staff assaults 
			  Prison name  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007( 1) 
			 Acklington 3 3 5 8 9 
			 Albany 3 — — 3 n/a 
			 Altcourse 48 51 47 39 53 
			 Ashfield 70 90 180 136 100 
			 Ashwell 1 — — 5 3 
			 Aylesbury 15 6 17 18 14 
			 Bedford 14 11 15 31 13 
			 Belmarsh 52 43 35 22 22 
			 Birmingham 59 85 99 81 78 
			 Blakenhurst 27 56 46 34 38 
			 Blundeston 3 4 7 7 1 
			 Brinsford 39 34 19 10 17 
			 Bristol 26 48 28 41 15 
			 Brixton 52 72 50 37 41 
			 Brockhill 6 10 14 9 3 
			 Bronzefield — 20 87 81 43 
			 Buckley Hall 38 19 25 14 11 
			 Bullingdon 23 16 17 23 24 
			 Bullwood Hall 1 — 9 6 3 
			 Camphill 13 9 12 5 n/a 
			 Canterbury 9 4 4 3 4 
			 Cardiff 11 16 19 14 6 
			 Castington 56 57 50 46 46 
			 Channings Wood 4 10 10 8 16 
			 Chelmsford 16 22 37 53 21 
			 Coldingley 1  1 3 8 
			 Cookham Wood 14 5 3 1 2 
			 Dartmoor 9 5 12 7 10 
			 Deerbolt 6 28 33 22 34 
			 Doncaster 28 23 26 47 29 
			 Dorchester 4 2 10 9 9 
			 Dovegate 48 80 35 59 43 
			 Downview 6 8 29 9 12 
			 Drake Hall — — 1 1 — 
			 Durham 34 31 42 46 58 
			 East Sutton Park 1 1 — — — 
			 Eastwood Park 13 7 21 28 8 
			 Edmunds Hill 9 23 9 13 2 
			 Elmley 25 21 30 17 28 
			 Erlestoke — 2 2 2 10 
			 Everthorpe 2 2 10 14 13 
			 Exeter 12 3 7 12 9 
			 Featherstone 8 21 8 9 17 
			 Feltham 103 173 138 118 107 
			 Ford 3 7 ' 5 3 4 
			 Forest Bank 63 78 88 54 34 
			 Foston Hall 18 8 13 28 27 
			 Frankland 5 15 12 10 21 
			 Full Sutton 13 12 17 14 9 
			 Garth 11 5 7 9 9 
			 Gartree — 1 2 3 1 
			 Glen Parva 29 39 31 45 56 
			 Gloucester 17 6 13 15 6 
			 Grendon/Spring Hill — — — — 1 
			 Guys Marsh 6 5 3 14 16 
			 Haverigg 7 2 1 5 18 
			 Hewell Grange — — 2 — 1 
			 High Down 51 59 40 71 67 
			 Highpoint 22 19 16 23 22 
			 Hindley 27 14 32 58 48 
			 Hollesley Bay 4 3 — 1 — 
			 Holloway 104 108 89 111 104 
			 Holme House 21 19 27 24 20 
			 Hull 32 30 33 25 33 
			 Huntercombe 19 15 15 33 24 
			 Kingston 1 — 2 2 — 
			 Kirkham — 1 — — 2 
			 Lancaster — 3 1 2 1 
			 Lancaster Farms 9 28 47 56 39 
			 Leeds 79 40 36 17 18 
			 Leicester 11 6 7 18 7 
			 Lewes 22 11 21 17 17 
			 Leyhill — 1 1 — 3 
			 Lincoln 12 23 22 15 23 
			 Lindholme 19 6 13 13 20 
			 Littlehey 13 10 10 5 4 
			 Liverpool 46 38 24 21 31 
			 Long Lartin 5 5 15 12 15 
			 Low Newton 16 27 31 21 20 
			 Lowdham Grange 5 13 17 36 39 
			 Maidstone 6 5 1 — 5 
			 Manchester 61 63 73 65 78 
			 Moorland 22 13 20 16 15 
			 Morton Hall 1 3 3 5 1 
			 Mount 13 8 12 15 21 
			 New Hall 23 19 29 60 48 
			 North Sea Camp 2 1 — — 1 
			 Northallerton 19 22 14 9 8 
			 Norwich 25 18 18 18 1 
			 Nottingham 16 33 15 25 47 
			 Onley 98 15 29 32 25 
			 Parc 59 61 50 51 53 
			 Parkhurst 18 15 16 3 n/a 
			 Pentonville 91 97 123 61 69 
			 Peterborough — — 75 141 115 
			 Portland 16 39 40 42 39 
			 Preston 11 18 25 29 45 
			 Ranby 9 3 3 17 17 
			 Reading 7 16 16 12 9 
			 Risley 19 27 32 29 23 
			 Rochester 16 18 23 13 4 
			 Rye Hill 21 39 65 48 43 
			 Send 4 — 2 3 1 
			 Shepton Mallet 1 — 1 — 2 
			 Shrewsbury 14 5 4 7 7 
			 Stafford 13 7 13 14 10 
			 Standford Hill — — — 1 1 
			 Stocken 10 8 12 7 9 
			 Stoke Heath 20 39 56 69 76 
			 Styal 7 12 13 32 46 
			 Sudbury 2 — 1 1 — 
			 Swaleside 17 16 9 11 8 
			 Swansea 8 4 4 6 — 
			 Swinfen Hall 9 4 10 10 9 
			 Thorn Cross 4 1 1 4 1 
			 Usk/Prescoed — — — 1 1 
			 Verne 1 6 4 — — 
			 Wakefield 8 8 9 8 15 
			 Wandsworth 78 86 87 38 36 
			 Warren Hill 12 21 34 42 50 
			 Wayland 11 9 3 9 10 
			 Wealstun 2 — 3 2 6 
			 Weare 11 6 4 — — 
			 Wellingborough 1 2 16 14 5 
			 Werrington 24 19 19 22 12 
			 Wetherby 14 77 72 60 37 
			 Whatton 1 1 — 4 12 
			 Whitemoor 15 16 19 11 22 
			 Winchester 13 15 12 10 4 
			 Wolds 8 13 4 9 3 
			 Woodhill 36 39 71 68 52 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 40 74 60 58 70 
			 Wymott 2 — 4 4 4 
			   
			 Total 2,541 2,799 3,171 3,148 2,916 
			 (1) The 2007 figures do not include the three prisons (Albany, Camphill and Parkhurst where the incident recording has transferred to the NOMIS system. 
		
	
	Table 2 provides details of when the police have been informed following an assault on prison staff (as recorded on the NOMS Incident Recording System). There are a variety of reasons why assaults on staff may not be reported to the police, including consideration of internal sanctions and wishes of individuals.
	On 18 February, an announcement was made that Her Majesty's Prison Service had made joint commitment with the Prison Officers Association to 'Zero Tolerance', and that I would be pursuing with my right hon. Friends the Attorney-General (Baroness Scotland) and Home Secretary (Jacqui Smith) the role of the police and the Crown Prosecution Service in a more vigorous approach to prosecuting alleged assaults on staff.
	Current guidance is that alleged assaults should be referred to the police if a weapon causing, or likely to cause, serious injury was used, if serious injury occurred by any means, if serious violence intended or likely to cause more than minor injury was used, or where there has been personal sexual violation other than rape of an especially vulnerable victim or threats of violence. Any alleged assault amounting to unlawful imprisonment (hostage-taking) should also be referred. If the Governor decides not to refer the case to the police, or if no prosecution follows, the Governor will consider referring the charge to an independent adjudicator (District Judge), who is empowered to impose punishments of additional days, as well as any of the punishments available to Governors under the Prison Rules. Serious assaults (based on the level of injury, pre-planning, or a previous history of violence) will normally be referred to the independent adjudicator. Other assaults will be dealt with by the Governor through the adjudication process.
	
		
			  Table 2: Assaults on staff reported to the police 
			  Prison name  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007( 1) 
			 Acklington — — 1 1 1 
			 Albany — — — 2 n/a 
			 Altcourse 2 — 5 2 3 
			 Ashfield 2 — — 12 6 
			 Ashwell — — — 1 — 
			 Aylesbury 3 — — — 1 
			 Bedford 2 3 3 3 — 
			 Belmarsh — — 1 2 1 
			 Birmingham 3 4 4 — 4 
			 Blakenhurst 4 6 4 9 9 
			 Blundeston — 1 3 2 — 
			 Brinsford 4 2 9 4 — 
			 Bristol 4 10 8 6 7 
			 Brixton 1 3 4 — 7 
			 Brockhill 1 3 9 2 2 
			 Bronzefield — 5 4 2 2 
			 Buckley Hall 3 3 1 1 1 
			 Bullingdon 2 4 3 2 1 
			 Bullwood Hall 1 — 3 3 — 
			 Camphill 3 6 1 1 n/a 
			 Canterbury — 1 — — — 
			 Cardiff 1 1 2 2 — 
			 Castington 2 3 3 1 3 
			 Channings Wood 1 1 5 1 4 
			 Chelmsford — 2 5 7 4 
			 Coldingley 1 — 1 — 2 
			 Cookham Wood 2 — 1 1 — 
			 Dartmoor 5 2' 2 1 6 
			 Deerbolt 1 7 6 5 1 
			 Doncaster 1 1 1 — — 
			 Dorchester 2 — 1 4 2 
			 Dovegate 8 9 2 6 10 
			 Downview 1 1 1 1 4 
			 Durham 4 4 — — 5 
			 Eastwood Park 1 1 3 1 1 
			 Edmunds Hill — 3 1 1 1 
			 Elmley 6 3 1 1 4 
			 Erlestoke — 1 2 — 5 
			 Everthorpe 1 1 1 4 1 
			 Exeter 3 2 4 6 2 
			 Featherstone 2 4 3 1 1 
			 Feltham 11 5 1 4 1 
			 Ford — 6 3 — 3 
			 Forest Bank 9 10 8 7 3 
			 Foston Hall — — 2 4 2 
			 Frankland 3 6 2 — 5 
			 Full Sutton 6 5 9 4 2 
			 Garth 1 — 3 4 3 
			 Gartree — 1 2 1 — 
			 Glen Parva — 4 2 5 7 
			 Gloucester 3 4 5 2 2 
			 Grendon/Spring Hill — — — — 1 
			 Guys Marsh 2 1 2 3 4 
			 Haverigg 5 1 — 1 6 
			 Hewell Grange — — 2 — 1 
			 High Down 1 1 4 5 — 
			 Highpoint 3 4 2 8 5 
			 Hindley 2 3 3 1 5 
			 Hollesley Bay — 2 — 1 — 
			 Holloway 7 5 2 3 4 
			 Holme House 1 2 3 1 3 
			 Hull 4 2 2 3 6 
			 Huntercombe 3 — 4 7 4 
			 Kirkham — — — — 1 
			 Lancaster — 1 — 2 — 
			 Lancaster Farms 2 8 I 1 4 
			 Leeds 4 1 1 — 2 
			 Leicester — 2 — 8 2 
			 Lewes — 3 6 1 3 
			 Lincoln — 3 2 1 3 
			 Lindholme 2 3 1 3 2 
			 Littlehey 2 1 1 — 2 
			 Liverpool 1 2 5 — 5 
			 Long Lartin 5 5 10 12 13 
			 Low Newton 3 1 3 1 2 
			 Lowdham Grange — 2 6 2 1 
			 Maidstone 2 2 1 — 2 
			 Manchester 5 1 — 3 2 
			 Moorland 1 — 1 1 3 
			 Mount 4 1 — 1 4 
			 New Hall 1 2 1 2 2 
			 North Sea Camp — 1 — — — 
			 Northallerton — 4 — 1 1 
			 Norwich 7 6 9 6 1 
			 Nottingham 1 2 2 2 5 
			 Onley 6 1 2 2 1 
			 Parc 1 3 7 1 2 
			 Parkhurst 4 2 3 1 n/a 
			 Pentonville 1 2 7 3 4 
			 Peterborough — — 6 12 11 
			 Portland 3 1 2 3 6 
			 Preston 4 2 4 7 5 
			 Ranby 2 2 1 3 8 
			 Reading 1 — — 1 — 
			 Risley 4 1 11 8 10 
			 Rochester 1 5 3   
			 Rye Hill 2 4 2 4 1 
			 Send 2 — 1 — — 
			 Shepton Mallet — — 1 — — 
			 Shrewsbury 1 1 1 2 — 
			 Stafford 10 1 2 8 3 
			 Stocken — 2 2 2 — 
			 Stoke Heath 8 1 2 3 1 
			 Styal 2 — 1 5 3 
			 Sudbury — — 1 — — 
			 Swaleside 4 6 2 7 4 
			 Swansea 3 1 1 — — 
			 Swinfen Hall — 1 2 2 3 
			 Thorn Cross 2 — 1 — — 
			 Usk/Prescoed — — — — 1 
			 Verne — 4 1 — — 
			 Wakefield 3 — 2 1 2 
			 Wandsworth 4 5 10 1 — 
			 Warren Hill 1 — 3 1 1 
			 Wayland 5 3 2 1 5 
			 Wealstun 1 — — — — 
			 Weare 3 2 1 — — 
			 Wellingborough 1 — 5 2 — 
			 Werrington 9 3 6 1 1 
			 Wetherby 6 7 10 1 4 
			 Whatton — — — — — 
			 Whitemoor 1 1 2 1 2 
			 Winchester 2 5 4 1 1 
			 Wolds 1 — — — — 
			 Woodhill 1 — 3 — — 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 7 3 6 3 4 
			 Wymott — — 1 1 1 
			   
			 Total 284 279 340 297 312 
			 (1) The 2007 figures do not include the three prisons (Albany, Camphill and Parkhurst where the incident recording has transferred to the NOMIS system. 
		
	
	Information about action taken by the police is not held centrally and can be provided at only disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisons are free of the use of controlled drugs.

Jack Straw: Prisons have achieved considerable success in reducing the level of drug misuse against a background of continuing high demand for drugs. Drug misuse as measured by random mandatory drug testing has fallen 63 per cent. since 1996-97, from 24.4 per cent. to 9.1 per cent. in 2007-08.
	A single episode of drug misuse over a defined period, strictly interpreted, would deprive a prison of drug free status. Over the 2007-08 financial year, two prisons reported no drug misuse, as measured by random mandatory drug testing.
	On average, 29 prisons reported no drug misuse during any one month of the 2007-08 financial year.

Prisons: Sign Language

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many British Sign Language users worked in each prison at the latest date for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: Information on the number of prison staff or official visitors who are able to use British Sign Language is not collated centrally nor required to be recorded locally.
	A number of staff based at prison establishments have chosen to learn British Sign Language (BSL), however there is no requirement for them to disclose or record this either locally or nationally. There are also organisations such as the Birmingham Institute for the Deaf (BID), the Royal Association of Deaf People, and the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) who will put prisoners in touch with qualified signers who will visit the prisoner. Not all prisoners who have hearing difficulties will use BSL.
	When a prisoner is identified as needing either an interpreter for BSL, or would benefit from receiving visits from someone who speaks BSL, the prison will arrange for an interpreter or suitable visitor through local or national support agencies.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Armed Conflict: Cultural Heritage

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  which territories his Department considers as having being occupied at some time since 1954 for the purposes of the draft Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill; and for what period in each case;
	(2)  which territories his Department considers to be occupied for the purposes of the draft Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 25 June 2008
	Under the draft bill the test for "occupied territory" is defined by reference to Article 42 of the 1907 Hague regulations respecting the laws and customs of war on land. This states that:
	"territory is considered occupied when it is actually placed under the authority of the hostile army. The occupation extends only to the territory where such authority has been established and can be exercised".
	The draft legislation provides that, in cases where there are legal proceedings, a Secretary of State may issue a certificate as to whether particular territory is occupied. However, such a certificate need not be given in all cases. Alternative evidence may be provided to prove the status of a particular territory.
	The Government do not plan to produce a list of territories deemed to be occupied since 1954 for the purposes of the Bill. We are not aware that any of the 118 states parties to the convention, including those with a common law system, has done so.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on branding and marketing activity in 2007-08.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its agencies spent £1,229,788 on marketing and branding activity in the financial year 2007-08.
	This total consists of £1,066,453 spent by Consular Directorate; £78,954 spent by Wilton Park; and £84,381 spent by FCO Services. Wilton Park and FCO Services are Executive agencies of the FCO, who undertake marketing and branding activities to promote their services.

Developing Countries: Security

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government have taken to assist developing countries to improve their national security.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 3 July 2008
	In the National Security Strategy, the Government recognise our security as grounded in a set of core values including human rights, the rule of law, legitimate and accountable government, justice, freedom, tolerance and opportunity for all.
	This broad concept of security extends to the Government's work internationally. For example, through the Conflict Prevention Pool, managed jointly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and amounting to £112 million in 2008-09, the Government fund activities in developing countries ranging from security sector reform to programmes supporting political reconciliation, judicial reform, peacekeeping training and respect for human rights. Over 50 per cent. of these funds are to be dispersed in Africa. DFID's White Paper (2006) recognises security as a precondition for development and as a result DFID is committed to spending £135 million on security and access to justice in thirteen countries in 2008-09.
	The Government also provide direct assistance to a number of countries to support their security capability development, for example through the FCO's allocation of £35 million in 2008-09 to support efforts to counter threats from terrorism and radicalisation, or the MOD's overseas training programmes.
	The UK also contributes to international organisations' assistance to developing countries to improve their national security including, for example, EU security sector reform missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea-Bissau.

Lebanon: Elections

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK plans to provide  (a) financial and  (b) technical support for the conduct of the 2009 parliamentary elections in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The UK places great importance on free, fair and transparent elections in Lebanon in 2009, which take into account existing proposals for reform as agreed at the Doha conference.
	The UK is working closely with the EU and UN, who have taken a lead on these issues. In June 2008, the EU sent two election experts to Lebanon to consider the technical feasibility of electoral reforms and to identify areas for EU support to help improve the electoral system in Lebanon. We fully support this and will continue to explore options to provide bilateral assistance in support of EU and UN efforts.

Lebanon: Security

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the UK is providing to security sector reform in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The UK continues to support President Suleiman and the Government of Lebanon in their efforts to maintain peace and security in Lebanon. During my visit to Lebanon in June 2008, I announced that the UK will provide, from this financial year, a £2 million programme of support to the Lebanese security sector.
	This assistance includes the provision of £1 million of technical and training support to the army, police, customs and immigration services to improve Lebanon's border management. Last financial year, we provided some £500,000 of training and equipment to increase the ability of the Lebanese armed forces to maintain public order and made a contribution to an EU programme to improve the investigative capability of the Internal Security Forces. We are also providing a number of places on security courses in the UK to the Lebanese armed forces, including places at Sandhurst, Dartmouth, and the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken since January 2008 to secure the release of the Israeli soldiers kidnapped by  (a) Hamas and  (b) Hezbollah in June and July 2006; what representations he has received since January 2008 about this issue; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Government welcome the announcement made on 1 July that the Israeli government and Hizbollah have come to an agreement that will ensure the return of the remains of Eldad Regev and Eldad Goldwasser who were kidnapped in July 2006. We call for the swift implementation of this agreement.
	The Government continue to call for the unconditional and immediate release of Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Hamas in January 2006. The UK supports Egypt's mediation work on his case and remains in close touch with the Egyptian government on this issue.
	The Government have not received any specific representations about the fate of these Israeli soldiers since January 2008.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take steps at the United Nations to seek to secure the release of the Israeli soldiers kidnapped by (i) Hamas and (ii) Hezbollah in June and July 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Government welcome the announcement made on 1 July that the Israeli government and Hizbollah have come to an agreement that will ensure the return of the remains of Eldad Regev and Eldad Goldwasser who were kidnapped in July 2006. We call for the swift implementation of this agreement. The UK maintained close contact with the UN appointed facilitator during the negotiations.
	The UN has not been involved in discussions on the case of Corporal Shalit, where the Government of Egypt is mediating. We remain in close contact with the Egyptian authorities, as well as the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority and continue to offer our support.

Religious Freedom: Christianity

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received of incidents of the persecution of Christians in other countries on the grounds of apostasy during the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has received a number of reports of incidents of persecution of Christians and apostasy that have taken place in different parts of the world including Iran, Pakistan, Egypt and Eritrea among others.
	We condemn all instances of violence and discrimination against individuals and groups because of their faith or belief, wherever they happen or whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned.
	We have discussed the issue of human rights abuses on the grounds of apostasy with Christian Solidarity Worldwide. They have agreed to keep the FCO informed of instances where apostates have suffered human rights abuses.

Retirement

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the standard retirement age in his Department is; and how many people worked beyond the standard retirement age in each of the last five years.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not impose a mandatory retirement age on staff below the Senior Management Structure (SMS)/Senior Civil Service (SCS). UK civil servants in these grades are free to choose when to stop working for the FCO.
	The Civil Service has set centrally a mandatory retirement age of 65 for all staff in the SMS/SCS. No staff currently serving in the FCO in these grades has reached the mandatory retirement age since it was raised from 60 to 65 in October 2006.

Somalia: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the chairman of the African Union on increasing the number of AMISON troops in Somalia.

Meg Munn: We welcome the peace agreement between the Transitional Federal government and the Alliance for Re-Liberation of Somalia initialled on 9 June in Djibouti. The agreement calls for the deployment of an international stabilisation force in Somalia. The agreement is a positive step and we look forward to all parties fulfilling their commitment to cease armed confrontation in Somalia.
	My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, attended the African Union (AU) summit in Sharm el Sheikh from 30 June to 1 July. At the summit, my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown held a number of bilateral meetings with various members and representatives of the AU. As the main focus of the summit and bilateral meetings was Zimbabwe, the opportunity to raise the future of the AU Mission in Somalia did not arise. However, my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown did meet with Ethiopian President Meles and Somali President Yusuf, with whom he discussed a possible international stabilisation force in Somalia.

Terrorism: Victim Support Schemes

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will place a copy of the policy document Exceptional Assistance Measures for Terrorist Incidents Overseas in the Library;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of guidance issued by his Department to British embassies and consulates on the implementation of the Exceptional Assistance Measures for terrorist incidents overseas.

David Miliband: Consular guidance is not placed in the Library of the House as a matter of routine. Guidance is meant for internal use only and is subject to change at any time.

Terrorism: Victim Support Schemes

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there is a ceiling to the financial assistance offered under the Exceptional Assistance Measures for terrorist incidents overseas; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Meg Munn, made clear in her written ministerial statement of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 41WS, financial assistance is available for appropriate costs incurred by victims or families. There is no ceiling on the provision of assistance under the Exceptional Assistance Measures.

Terrorism: Victim Support Schemes

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions the new Exceptional Assistance Measures for terrorist incidents overseas contain for financial support for the family members of victims of such incidents; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: I refer the right hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State's (Meg Munn) written ministerial statement of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 41WS.

Torture

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to discourage other states from practising torture.

Meg Munn: holding answer 3 July 2008
	Although a large number of states have ratified various international conventions prohibiting torture, torture continues to be committed with impunity in many parts of the world. The UK remains fundamentally opposed to torture and continues to be one of the most active countries in the world in the fight to eradicate it.
	For example, we continue to support wider ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) and its Optional Protocol (OPCAT) through bilateral lobbying campaigns, EU demarches and our work in UN forums such as the Human Rights Council. We also use a combination of project work and diplomatic activity to encourage implementation of OPCAT, including by the establishment of national preventative mechanisms. Since OPCAT was opened for signature on 4 February 2003, 61 states have become a signatory. As of July 2008, 35 states have ratified OPCAT, most recently Guatemala in June 2008. This marks significant progress, although there is of course more to be done.
	Further information on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) work in this field can be found in the FCO's 2007 Annual Human Rights Report, which is available on the FCO's website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk

Zimbabwe: British Nationality

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to safeguard British nationals resident in Zimbabwe.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) takes its role of providing consular support to British nationals overseas seriously, and their safety is our top priority. As with many of our diplomatic missions across the world, our Embassy in Harare holds a Civil Contingency Plan. The Zimbabwe contingency plan focuses on assisting the departure of British nationals from Zimbabwe by non-military means and is reviewed and updated on a regular basis.
	The FCO Travel Advice for Zimbabwe is under constant review. We are currently advising against all travel to Zimbabwe at this time of high tension. We are advising those currently resident in Zimbabwe to continue to review their security arrangements, to keep themselves up to date with local developments and they are strongly advised to have their own contingency plan in place for how they would leave at short notice. A full copy of the Travel Advice can be found at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/travel/zimbabwe.
	If the situation in Zimbabwe deteriorates further, we will reflect this in our Travel Advice and provide appropriate guidance.

Zimbabwe: Deportation

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary over deportations to Zimbabwe.

Meg Munn: There are no current plans to enforce returns to Zimbabwe. We are keeping the matter under review and will discuss this with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary when the situation changes.

Zimbabwe: Elections

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on bringing pressure to bear on the Zimbabwe Government to conduct free and fair elections.

Meg Munn: holding answer 25 June 2008
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, frequently discuss Zimbabwe with their Chinese counterparts. There were further discussions with senior diplomats in late June.

Zimbabwe: Travel Information

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department gives on the safety of travel to Zimbabwe for  (a) Zimbabwean citizens and  (b) citizens of other countries who have close links with the Movement for Democratic Change; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides travel advice for all British nationals who intend to travel to, or live in, Zimbabwe. This advice is kept under constant review to ensure that it accurately reflects the risks of travel at any time. The latest advice for Zimbabwe and elsewhere can be found on the FCO's website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
	This advice would be freely available for people of any nationality to view.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are in place to prevent absent parents from investing their income with a pension fund as a means of avoiding Child Support Agency payments.

James Plaskitt: Very little evidence exists to suggest that non-resident parents are exploiting the current rules on pension contributions in a way which unreasonably reduces their child support liability.
	When such cases arise, the Child Support Agency can adjust liabilities in specified exceptional circumstances where the usual rules may not operate fairly. For example, in either child support scheme, it is possible to adjust the child support liability where the net income of the non-resident parent used in the calculation is inconsistent with their lifestyle or unreasonably diverted. In such cases, this action will be considered by the Agency following an application by the parent with care.

Departmental Standards

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 218-20W, on departmental standards, what the scope was of the Gateway Review undertaken in 2006-07 on his Department's project ID Cards.

Anne McGuire: Gateway Reviews deliver a 'peer review' in which independent practitioners from outside the programme/project use their experience and expertise to examine the progress and likelihood of successful delivery of the programme or project. They are used to provide a valuable additional perspective on the issues facing the internal team, and an external challenge to the robustness of plans and processes.
	In 2006-07, the DWP ID Cards project was subject to a Gateway Review 1.
	The OGC Gateway Review 1 is the first project review, which investigates the strategic business case and proposed way forward to confirm that the project is achievable and likely to deliver what is required.
	The full scope of each Gateway Review is set out in the OGC Gateway Process documents which can be found on the OGC website at:
	www.ogc.gov.uk

Departmental Standards

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 218-20W, on departmental standards, what the scope was of the Gateway Review undertaken in 2007-08 on his Department's project  (a) DWP Change Programme,  (b) Customer Information System r4,  (c) Method of Payment Reform Programme and  (d) Child Maintenance Redesign.

Anne McGuire: Gateway Reviews deliver a 'peer review' in which independent practitioners from outside the programme/project use their experience and expertise to examine the progress and likelihood of successful delivery of the programme or project. They are used to provide a valuable additional perspective on the issues facing the internal team, and an external challenge to the robustness of plans and processes.
	In 2007-08, the following projects, listed in the question, were subject to Gateway Reviews.
	
		
			  Project  Gateway 
			 DWP Change Programme Gateway Review 0Strategic Assessment 
			 Method of Payment Reform Gateway Review 0Strategic Assessment 
			 Child Maintenance Redesign Gateway Review 0Strategic Assessment 
			 Customer Information System r4 Gateway Review 1Business Justification 
		
	
	The OGC Gateway Review 0 is a programme-only review that sets the programme in the wider policy or corporate context. This review investigates the direction and planned outcomes of the programme, together with the progress of its constituent projects.
	The OGC Gateway Review 1 is the first project review, which investigates the strategic business case and proposed way forward to confirm that the project is achievable and likely to deliver what is required.
	The full scope of each Gateway Review is set out in the OGC Gateway Process documents which can be found on the OGC website at:
	www.ogc.gov.uk

Employment

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of working age adults with fewer than five GCSEs at grade A* to C were in employment in each local authority area in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 8 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question asking how many and what proportion of working age adults were in employment in each local authority in each year since 1997 (215925); and, how many and what proportion of working age adults with fewer than five GCSEs at grade A* to C were in employment in each local authority in each year since 1997.
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1 shows the number of working age persons in employment (Males aged 16-64, Females Aged 16-59) in each local authority for the 12 month periods ending in February, for 1998-2004, from the annual LFS, and for the 12 month periods ending December, for 2004-2007, from the APS. Table 2 shows the percentage of persons of working age in employment for the same periods and geographies as Table 1.
	Tables 3 and 4 show the number and proportion of working age persons in employment (Males aged 16-64, Females Aged 16-59) with fewer than 5 GCSEs at grade A* to C, or equivalent, in each local authority for the same periods as Table 1. Unfortunately, comparable data on qualifications are not available prior to 2001 for these geographies. Copies of the tables have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in small geographical areas, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty.

Housing Benefit

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the terms of reference for the housing benefit review his Department is undertaking; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The housing benefit (HB) review is an internal review that is being taken forward by Her Majesty's Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions. As it is an internal review we do not have plans to publish the terms of reference. That said, the objectives of the review are centred on work incentives, efficiency, fairness, and value for money to the tax payer. The Budget 2008 statement highlights this remit in a little more detail at paragraph 4.14
	Despite HB being available both in and out of work, it is still seen by some as a disincentive to work. Expenditure is also rising, even though the number of people claiming is forecast to remain static........the Government will therefore undertake a comprehensive review of the working age HB system, to look at its effectiveness, particularly in promoting work incentives, efficiency and fairness and to ensure that it represents value for money for the taxpayer
	Budget 2008 [HC388] is available in the Library and online at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_08/report/bud_bud08_repindex.cfm
	There are no plans to make a further statement on the review at this stage.

Housing Benefit

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued to Jobcentre Plus districts on payment of discretionary housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Discretionary housing payments are administered by local authorities. The guidance for local authorities on the operation of these payments, Discretionary Housing Payments: Best Practice Guide March 2008, has been placed in the Library.
	This guidance is also available online at:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/housingbenefit/manuals/DHPGoodPracticeGuide-v1.pdf

Housing Benefit: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of housing benefit claims were from households where the claimant was  (a) 65 years old or more and  (b) in work in each London local authority area in the last 12 months; and what the median processing time of the claims was in each case.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

Incapacity Benefit: Children

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children aged  (a) under five,  (b) five to 11 and  (c) 12 to 16 years are estimated to be living in households in receipt of incapacity benefit in each London local authority area.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for the numbers of children who have a parent or guardian in receipt of a relevant benefit, is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of children dependent on a parent or guardian claiming incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance. London local authorities: April 2007 
			   Aged 0 to 4  Aged 5 to 11  Aged 12 to 16 
			 City of London 10 15 10 
			 Barking and Dagenham 680 1,160 995 
			 Barnet 755 1,180 955 
			 Bexley 350 580 585 
			 Brent 1,055 1,580 1,325 
			 Bromley 470 745 650 
			 Camden 835 1,075 825 
			 Croydon 735 1,225 1,195 
			 Ealing 890 1,530 1,435 
			 Enfield 1,165 1,770 1,520 
			 Greenwich 705 1,140 1,070 
			 Hackney 945 1,445 1,250 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 480 780 685 
			 Haringey 975 1,500 1,235 
			 Harrow 545 930 815 
			 Havering 380 695 770 
			 Hillingdon 655 1,010 900 
			 Hounslow 645 1,080 970 
			 Islington 720 1,035 915 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 355 500 440 
			 Kingston upon Thames 180 295 260 
			 Lambeth 750 1,010 950 
			 Lewisham 740 1,135 1,045 
			 Merton 280 505 450 
			 Newham 1,150 1,940 1,840 
			 Red bridge 685 1,185 1,095 
			 Richmond upon Thames 185 275 290 
			 Southwark 775 1,125 1,070 
			 Sutton 295 480 425 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,280 2,115 1,805 
			 Waltham Forest 835 1,245 1,185 
			 Wandsworth 510 765 745 
			 Westminster 980 1,370 925 
			  Notes: 1. All figures supplied have been rounded to protect the confidentiality of claimants. 2 All data represent a snapshot in time of claimants on the computer system, and will therefore exclude a very small number of cases that are held clerically. 3. The parent or guardian may be in receipt of other benefits.  4. Information on child dependents is not reliably completed on the benefit computer system, therefore children have been merged onto incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claims from child benefit records with permission from HMRC.  Source:  DWP Information Directorate

Incapacity Benefit: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households were in receipt of incapacity benefit in each parliamentary constituency in London in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for those claiming incapacity benefits, is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants in London; as at November 2007 
			  Parliamentary constituency  Number of claimants 
			 Barking 4,280 
			 Battersea 3,430 
			 Beckenham 3,090 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow 6,940 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 2,530 
			 Brent East 4,870 
			 Brent North 2,940 
			 Brent South 4,860 
			 Brentford and Isleworth 4,330 
			 Bromley and Chislehurst 2,530 
			 Camberwell and Peckham 5,330 
			 Carshalton and Wallington 3,210 
			 Chingford and Woodford Green 2,800 
			 Chipping Barnet 2,960 
			 Cities of London and Westminster 5,030 
			 Croydon Central 4,340 
			 Croydon North 5,120 
			 Croydon South 2,720 
			 Dagenham 4,110 
			 Dulwich and West Norwood 4,440 
			 Ealing Acton and Shepherd's Bush 5,770 
			 Ealing North 4,300 
			 Ealing Southall 5,670 
			 East Ham 5,670 
			 Edmonton 4,880 
			 Eltham 3,550 
			 Enfield North 4,570 
			 Enfield Southgate 2,830 
			 Erith and Thamesmead 4,810 
			 Feltham and Heston 4,430 
			 Finchley and Golders Green 3,370 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 5,160 
			 Hackney North and Stoke Newington 5,700 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 7,400 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,280 
			 Hampstead and Highgate 4,640 
			 Harrow East 4,060 
			 Harrow West 2,860 
			 Hayes and Harlington 3,640 
			 Hendon 4,200 
			 Holborn and St. Pancras 6,740 
			 Hornchurch 2,330 
			 Hornsey and Wood Green 4,900 
			 Ilford North 3,450 
			 Ilford South 4,670 
			 Islington North 6,450 
			 Islington South and Finsbury 5,840 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,090 
			 Kingston and Surbiton 2,890 
			 Lewisham Deptford 4,380 
			 Lewisham East 3,820 
			 Lewisham West 4,170 
			 Leyton and Wanstead 3,850 
			 Mitcham and Morden 3,420 
			 North Southwark and Bermondsey 6,230 
			 Old Bexley and Sidcup 2,110 
			 Orpington 2,900 
			 Poplar and Canning Town 7,100 
			 Putney 2,840 
			 Regent's Park and North Kensington 8,870 
			 Richmond Park 2,290 
			 Romford 2,520 
			 Ruislip-Northwood 2,010 
			 Streatham 4,970 
			 Sutton and Cheam 2,070 
			 Tooting 3,280 
			 Tottenham 7,270 
			 Twickenham 2,440 
			 Upminster 2,720 
			 Uxbridge 2,730 
			 Vauxhall 6,500 
			 Walthamstow 4,350 
			 West Ham 5,170 
			 Wimbledon 1,660 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Numbers of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants by parliamentary constituency at November 2007, are published on the NOMIS website at: www.nomisweb.co.uk  Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 percent WPLS

Income Support: Children

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children aged  (a) under five,  (b) five to 11 and  (c) 12 to 16 years are estimated to be living in (i) single parent and (ii) other households in receipt of income support in each London local authority area.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for the numbers of children who have a parent or guardian in receipt of income support, has been placed in the Library.

Income Support: Lone Parents

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households with lone parents in receipt of income support are estimated to be living in  (a) Regent's Park and Kensington North,  (b) the London borough of Westminster and  (c) each ward in the London borough of Westminster.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for lone parents claiming income support, is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of lone  parent income support claimants  in Regent's Park and North Kensington parliamentary constituency and Westminster city council, by ward; as at November 2007 
			   Number 
			 Regent's Park and North Kensington parliamentary constituency 3,500 
			 All wards within Westminster city council 3,170 
			 Abbey Road 50 
			 Bayswater 75 
			 Bryanston and Dorset Square 35 
			 Church Street 415 
			 Churchill 225 
			 Harrow Road 370 
			 Hyde Park 100 
			 Knightsbridge and Belgravia 5 
			 Lancaster Gate 95 
			 Little Venice 115 
			 Maida Vale 175 
			 Marylebone High Street 25 
			 Queen's Park 500 
			 Regent's Park 110 
			 St. James's 85 
			 Tachbrook 70 
			 Vincent Square 155 
			 Warwick 80 
			 West End 45 
			 Westbourne 445 
			  Notes: 1. Parliamentary constituency and local authority figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Ward figures are rounded to the nearest 5. 3. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 4. Numbers of income support lone parents by parliamentary constituency and ward at November 2007, are published on the NOMIS website at: www.nomisweb.co.uk  Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS

Lone Parents: Social Security Benefits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the average amount unclaimed by working lone parents entitled to but not claiming  (a) council tax benefit and housing benefit/local housing allowance,  (b) council tax benefit and income support,  (c) income support and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (d) income support, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the average amount unclaimed by couples with children, where one or both parents were working, who were entitled, to but not claiming  (a) council tax benefit and housing benefit/local housing allowance,  (b) council tax benefit and income support,  (c) income support and housing benefit/local housing allowance and  (d) income support, housing benefit/local housing allowance and council tax benefit, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Estimates of the average unclaimed weekly amounts of means-tested benefits in Great Britain, covering income support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income based) are published in the report Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2006-07. Copies of the report are available in the Library.
	For working singles with children entitled to but not receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit the estimated average weekly unclaimed amount of those benefits in each of the past five years is given in the following table.
	
		
			   Mean unclaimed HB and CTB () 
			 2002-03 (1) 
			 2003-04 45.50 
			 2004-05 44.90 
			 2005-06 51.10 
			 2006-07 48.80 
			 (1) Insufficient sample size. Note: Figures are in nominal terms and rounded to the nearest ten pence. 
		
	
	For couples with children where one or both parents are working and who are entitled to but not receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit the estimated average weekly unclaimed amount in each of the past five years is given in the table.
	
		
			   Mean unclaimed HB and CTB () 
			 2002-03 43.90 
			 2003-04 51.00 
			 2004-05 52.40 
			 2005-06 60.90 
			 2006-07 66.90 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are in nominal terms and rounded to the nearest ten pence. 2. Sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results for the other groups requested.

Pathways to Work: Finance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much he expects to spend on Pathways to Work programme costs in each of the next five years.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 9 June 2008
	The available figures cover the period of the Government's spending plans to 2010-11.
	Planned spending on Pathways to Work will increase to 300 million in 2008-09, 390 million in 2009-10 and 400 million in 2010-11. Figures provided, particularly for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are indicative allocations based on current assumptions and are subject to change.

Post Office Card Account: Clwyd

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what proportion of each type of state benefit payable to residents in Vale of Clwyd constituency was paid into Post Office card accounts in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 30 June 2008
	The answer is not available in the precise format requested. The following table shows the number and percentage of state benefit payments paid into Post Office car accounts in Vale of Clwyd in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   December 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   Total  %  Total  %  Total  %  Total  %  Total  % 
			 Attendance Allowance 10  150 13 170 16 180 18 160 18 
			 Bereavement Benefit 10 11 10 10   
			 Disability Living Allowance 20  730 15 890 18 870 18 860 17 
			 Incapacity Benefit 10  340 14 480 19 460 19 410 17 
			 Carers Allowance   150 18 170 20 150 18 140 16 
			 Industrial Injuries   140 25 140 26 130 25 130 24 
			 Income Support 50 1 560 17 840 26 770 24 750 23 
			 Jobseekers Allowance 20 3 80 9 100 10 140 13 120 10 
			 Pension Credit 10  1,140 25 1,720 36 1,710 35 1,660 33 
			 State Pension 30  2,130 15 3,540 25 3,440 24 3,280 22 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance   30 10 70 24 80 25 70 22 
			 Widows Benefit  1 10 7 40 23 30 24 20 23 
			 Total 140  5,470 17 8,170 24 7,990 24 7,620 22 
			  Notes: 1. Total numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, percentages to the nearest whole per cent. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Figures refer to payment accounts. Claimants with more than one account will be counted for each account. Figures only relate to accounts live and in payment on the specified date. 4. Child Benefit is administered by HM Revenue and Customs and War Pensions are administered by MOD. These benefits have therefore been excluded.  Source:  DWP, Information Directorate.

Post Office Card Account: Newport Gwent

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what proportion of each type of state benefit paid to residents in Newport East constituency was deposited into a Post Office card account in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The answer is not available in the precise format requested. The following table shows the number and percentage of state benefit payments paid into Post Office card accounts in Newport, East in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   December 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   Total  %  Total  %  Total  %  Total  %  Total  % 
			 Attendance Allowance  1 150 21 170 25 150 24 140 24 
			 Bereavement Benefit   10 7   
			 Disability Living Allowance 20 1 650 17 810 22 800 21 810 20 
			 Incapacity Benefit   370 16 550 23 530 23 490 22 
			 Carers Allowance   130 18 170 22 150 19 150 19 
			 Industrial Injuries   120 25 130 27 120 27 120 25 
			 Income Support 20 1 800 24 1,170 36 1,110 34 1,010 31 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance 30 3 130 16 240 24 230 20 210 21 
			 Pension Credit 10  1,020 30 1,470 42 1,480 40 1,440 39 
			 State Pension 20  2,220 19 3,410 28 3,270 27 3,110 25 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance   10 9 40 27 40 29 40 28 
			 Widows Benefit   10 3 30 20 30 21 30 24 
			 Total 110  5,630 20 8,210 29 7,910 28 7,540 26 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, percentages to the nearest whole per cent. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Figures refer to payment accounts. Claimants with more than one account will be counted for each account. Figures only relate to accounts live and in payment on the specified date. 4. Child Benefit is administered by HM Revenue and Customs and War Pensions are now administered by MOD. These benefits have therefore been excluded.  Source:  DWP, Information Directorate

Social Security

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what account the calculation of the amount allocated to each Jobcentre Plus district for the payment of discretionary housing payments takes of average private rental prices  (a) nationally and  (b) in each Jobcentre Plus district; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much was allocated to each Jobcentre Plus district in the UK for expenditure on  (a) exceptional hardship payments and  (b) exceptional circumstances payments in each year between 1991 and 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how the amount allocated to Jobcentre Plus districts to pay  (a) exceptional hardship payments and  (b) exceptional circumstances payments was calculated; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave her on 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 821W.

Social Security Benefits

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed benefits in  (a) each Scottish parliamentary constituency,  (b) Scotland and  (c) the UK in the most recent period for which records are available, broken down by type of benefit claimed.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available for the UK; information regarding Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Office.
	The available information for Great Britain, Scotland and constituencies has been placed in the Library

Social Security Benefits: Children

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of all children under 16 years old were living in households dependent on benefits in each parliamentary constituency in London in 2008.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for the percentage of children who have a parent or guardian in receipt of a relevant benefit, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of children under 16 dependent on a parent or guardian claiming one or more of incapacity benefit (IB), severe disablement allowance (SDA), jobseeker's allowance (JSA), income support (IS), or pension credit (PC): in London parliamentary constituencies, as at April 2007 
			   Percentage 
			 Barking 35.3 
			 Battersea 25.0 
			 Beckenham 16.1 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow 44.7 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 16.8 
			 Brent East 32.2 
			 Brent North 22.9 
			 Brent South 34.0 
			 Brentford and Isleworth 22.0 
			 Bromley and Chislehurst 14.6 
			 Camberwell and Peckham 37.2 
			 Carshalton and Wallington 20.2 
			 Chingford and Woodford Green 21.4 
			 Chipping Barnet 16.7 
			 Cities of London and Westminster 22.8 
			 Croydon Central 29.4 
			 Croydon North 27.8 
			 Croydon South 14.7 
			 Dagenham 34.0 
			 Dulwich and West Norwood 25.3 
			 Ealing Acton and Shepherd's Bush 33.6 
			 Ealing North 25.8 
			 Ealing Southall 25.7 
			 East Ham 33.1 
			 Edmonton 37.1 
			 Eltham 27.6 
			 Enfield North 33.8 
			 Enfield Southgate 17.3 
			 Erith and Thamesmead 31.8 
			 Feltham and Heston 28.4 
			 Finchley and Golders Green 16.3 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 36.4 
			 Hackney North and Stoke Newington 30.2 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 44.9 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 29.1 
			 Hampstead and Highgate 29.1 
			 Harrow East 23.0 
			 Harrow West 17.9 
			 Hayes and Harlington 30.4 
			 Hendon 25.6 
			 Holborn and St. Pancras 41.2 
			 Hornchurch 17.2 
			 Hornsey and Wood Green 26.9 
			 Ilford North 21.4 
			 Ilford South 29.6 
			 Islington North 41.4 
			 Islington South and Finsbury 45.8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 15.1 
			 Kingston and Surbiton 14.5 
			 Lewisham Deptford 33.9 
			 Lewisham East 33.6 
			 Lewisham West 30.3 
			 Leyton and Wanstead 28.4 
			 Mitcham and Morden 24.5 
			 North Southwark and Bermondsey 37.4 
			 Old Bexley and Sidcup 10.8 
			 Orpington 17.5 
			 Poplar and Canning Town 46.8 
			 Putney 23.9 
			 Regent's Park and Kensington North 43.0 
			 Richmond Park 10.0 
			 Romford 17.6 
			 Ruislip-Northwood 12.9 
			 Streatham 31.3 
			 Sutton and Cheam 11.6 
			 Tooting 20.8 
			 Tottenham 43.5 
			 Twickenham 10.7 
			 Upminster 18.8 
			 Uxbridge 22.9 
			 Vauxhall 37.7 
			 Walthamstow 32.9 
			 West Ham 36.1 
			 Wimbledon 8.5 
			  Notes: 1. All data represent a snapshot in time of claimants on the computer system and will therefore exclude a very small number of cases that are held clerically. 2. Information on child dependents is not reliably completed on the benefit computer systems; therefore children have been merged onto IS/JSA/IB/SDA/PC claims from child benefit records with permission from HMRC. 3. The total numbers of children aged 0-15 on child benefit in each parliamentary constituency at the relevant year have been used as the denominator for the percentages given.  Source:  DWP Information Directorate

Social Security Benefits: Children

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which 100 wards had the highest proportion of children dependent on benefits in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of children under 16 dependent on a parent or guardian who is claiming one or more of incapacity benefit (IB), severe disablement allowance (SDA), jobseeker's allowance (JSA), income support (IS), or pension credit (PC) t he 100 wards with the highest proportion, as at April 2007 
			  Local authority  Ward  Proportion (percentage) 
			 Glasgow City Keppochhill 62.3 
			 Liverpool Granby 61.9 
			 Knowsley Princess 61.6 
			 Manchester Moss Side 61.2 
			 Liverpool Vauxhall 60.7 
			 Rhondda, Cynon, Taff Pen-y-waun 59.6 
			 Liverpool Everton 59.4 
			 Glasgow City Bridgeton/Dalmarnock 59.3 
			 Rhondda, Cynon, Taff Maerdy 58.7 
			 Liverpool Breckfield 58.5 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne West City 58.5 
			 Swansea Townhill 58.5 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Grangetown 58.3 
			 Knowsley Longview 57.5 
			 Bristol, City of Lawrence Hill 57.5 
			 Glasgow City Queenslie 57.4 
			 Liverpool Smithdown 57.2 
			 North Lanarkshire Craigneuk 56.7 
			 Middlesbrough Thorntree 56.6 
			 Manchester Harpurhey 56.4 
			 Glasgow City Royston 56.4 
			 Westminster Church Street 55.6 
			 Salford Pendleton 55.6 
			 Knowsley Cantril Farm 55.5 
			 Sefton Linacre 55.5 
			 Glasgow City Summerhill 55.2 
			 Glasgow City Hutchesontown 55.2 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of Orchard Park and Greenwood 55.0 
			 Glasgow City Parkhead 54.7 
			 Manchester Hulme 54.6 
			 Tower Hamlets Bow East 54.5 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Walker 54.4 
			 Westminster Westbourne 54.3 
			 Edinburgh, City of Craigmillar 54.3 
			 Wrexham Wynnstay 54.1 
			 Glasgow City Barlanark 54.1 
			 Tendring Rush Green 54.0 
			 Tower Hamlets East India and Lansbury 53.8 
			 Salford Blackfriars 53.6 
			 Glasgow City Glenwood 53.4 
			 Caerphilly Twyn Carno 53.3 
			 Neath Port Talbot Briton Ferry West 53.1 
			 Swansea Penderry 53.0 
			 Glasgow City Easterhouse 53.0 
			 Wirral Tranmere 52.7 
			 Glasgow City Ibrox 52.7 
			 Liverpool Speke 52.6 
			 Hartlepool Stranton 52.6 
			 Wirral Bidston 52.4 
			 Merthyr Tydfil Gurnos 52.3 
			 Manchester Beswick and Clayton 52.2 
			 Cardiff Butetown 52.2 
			 Glasgow City Springburn 52.2 
			 Liverpool Melrose 52.1 
			 Wirral Birkenhead 51.9 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Monkchester 51.9 
			 Denbighshire Rhyl West 51.9 
			 Manchester Benchill 51.8 
			 Bridgend Bettws 51.7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea Golborne 51.2 
			 Tendring Golf Green 51.2 
			 Tower Hamlets Mile End East 51.0 
			 Glasgow City Milton 51.0 
			 Nottingham St. Ann's 50.8 
			 Westminster Queen's Park 50.7 
			 Middlesbrough Park End 50.7 
			 Neath Port Talbot Sandfields West 50.7 
			 Rhondda, Cynon, Taff Tylorstown 50.7 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham College Park and Old Oak 50.6 
			 Salford Langworthy 50.6 
			 Haringey Northumberland Park 50.5 
			 Manchester Central 50.5 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Byker 50.5 
			 Glasgow City Wyndford 50.4 
			 Manchester Bradford 50.3 
			 Glasgow City Drumry 50.3 
			 Renfrewshire Ferguslie 50.3 
			 Hackney Hoxton 50.2 
			 Telford and Wrekin Woodside 50.2 
			 Liverpool Pirrie 50.1 
			 Wrexham Queensway 50.1 
			 Manchester Ardwick 50.0 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of Southcoates East 50.0 
			 St. Helens Parr and Hardshaw 49.9 
			 Glasgow City Braidfauld 49.9 
			 Haringey White Hart Lane 49.8 
			 Islington Bunhill 49.6 
			 Manchester Newton Heath 49.6 
			 Liverpool Kensington 49.5 
			 Hackney Wick 49.4 
			 Tower Hamlets Limehouse 49.3 
			 Knowsley Northwood 49.3 
			 Liverpool Abercromby 49.3 
			 Nottingham Aspley 49.2 
			 Glasgow City Merchant City 49.1 
			 Brent Stonebridge 49.0 
			 Cardiff Ely 49.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Wormholt and White City 48.8 
			 Islington Finsbury Park 48.8 
			 Sandwell Soho and Victoria 48.8 
			  Notes:  1. All data represent a snapshot in time of claimants on the computer system, and will therefore exclude a very small number of cases that are held clerically.  2. Information on child dependents is not reliably completed on the benefit computer systems; therefore children have been merged onto IS/JSA/IB/SDA/PC claims from child benefit records with permission from HMRC.  3. The total numbers of children aged 0-15 on child benefit in each parliamentary constituency at the relevant year have been used as the denominator for the percentages given.  Source:  DWP Information Directorate.

Social Security Benefits: Children

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were estimated to be living in households on  (a) any benefits,  (b) income support only,  (c) jobseekers allowance,  (d) incapacity benefit,  (e) disability living allowance and  (f) income support and incapacity benefit in 2008.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for the numbers of children who have a parent or guardian in receipt of a relevant benefit, is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Children aged under 16 dependent on a parent or guardian claiming one or more of income support (IS), jobseeker's allowance (JSA), incapacity benefit (IB) or severe disablement allowance (SDA), and disability living allowance (DLA), Great Britain, as at April 2007 
			   Number 
			 Any benefits 2,304,870 
			   
			 Income support only (not in receipt of IB/SDA or DLA) 1,388,030 
			   
			 Jobseeker's allowance 164,550 
			   
			 Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance 600,980 
			 of which: are incapacity benefit 570,210 
			 of which: are severe disablement allowance 30,770 
			   
			 Disability living allowance 374,265 
			 Income support and IB/SDA 222,205 
			  Notes:  1. All data represent a snapshot in time of claimants on the computer system and will therefore exclude a very small number of cases that are held clerically.  2. Information on child dependents is not reliably completed on the benefit computer system; therefore children have been merged onto IS/JSA/IB/SDA and pension credit (PC) claims from child benefit records with permission from HMRC.  3. IB/SDA claimants may also be in receipt of IS/PC and/or DLA. Disability living allowance claimants may also be in receipt of IS/PC and/or IB/SDA.  4. 'Any benefits' means one or more of IS/JSA/IB/SDA/PC/DLA.  5. Figures for individual benefits do not sum to the total for any benefits due to overlaps in benefits.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate.

Social Security Benefits: Children

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in households dependent on benefits in each local authority ward in Westminster in 2008.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for the numbers of children who have a parent or guardian in receipt of a relevant benefit, is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Children aged under 16 dependent on a parent or guardian claiming one or more of incapacity benefit (IB), severe disablement allowance (SDA), jobseeker's allowance (JSA), income support (IS) or pension credit (PC) in Westminster city council wards, as at April 2007 
			   Number 
			 Abbey Road 145 
			 Bayswater 175 
			 Bryanston and Dorset Square 105 
			 Churchill 720 
			 Church Street 1,490 
			 Harrow Road 1,010 
			 Hyde Park 275 
			 Knightsbridge and Belgravia 10 
			 Lancaster Gate 270 
			 Little Venice 420 
			 Maida Vale 600 
			 Marylebone High Street 70 
			 Queen's Park 1,525 
			 Regent's Park 340 
			 St. James's 280 
			 Tachbrook 195 
			 Vincent Square 425 
			 Warwick 210 
			 Westbourne 1,560 
			 West End 115 
			  Notes:  1. All figures supplied have been rounded.  2. All data represent a snapshot in time of claimants on the computer system, and will therefore exclude a very small number of cases that are held clerically.  3. Information on child dependents is not reliably completed on the benefit computer systems; therefore children have been merged onto IS/JSA/IB/SDA/PC claims from child benefit records with permission from HMRC.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate.

Social Security Benefits: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what proportion of each type of state benefit paid to residents in Warrington North constituency was paid into Post Office card accounts in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The answer is not available in the precise format requested. The following table shows the number and percentage of state benefit payments paid into Post Office card accounts in Warrington, North in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   December 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   Total  %  Total  %  Total  %  Total  %  Total  % 
			 Attendance Allowance   80 13 100 17 110 18 100 19 
			 Bereavement Benefit   10 8 10 6 
			 Disability Living Allowance 30 1 710 15 840 19 810 18 810 17 
			 Incapacity Benefit   360 13 490 19 490 19 450 17 
			 Carers Allowance   160 20 190 23 180 22 160 19 
			 Industrial Injuries 60 7 150 20 160 22 150 20 130 19 
			 Income Support 10  600 18 930 29 890 28 870 27 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance   50 6 220 21 270 22 240 22 
			 Pension Credit 30 1 1,060 26 1,620 38 1,560 37 1,480 35 
			 State Pension 140 1 2,260 16 3,370 24 3,170 22 2,980 20 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance   30 9 70 19 70 20 60 18 
			 Widows Benefit   30 11 40 18 30 19 30 18 
			 Total 270 1 5,480 17 8,050 25 7,740 24 7,310 22 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, percentages to the nearest whole per cent. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Figures refer to payment accounts. Claimants with more than one account will be counted for each account. Figures only relate to accounts live and in payment on the specified date. 4. Child Benefit is administered by HM Revenue and Customs and War Pensions are now administered by MOD. These benefits have therefore been excluded.  Source: DWP, Information Directorate

Unemployment Benefits

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which ward in each local authority area in England has the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest proportion of households receiving workless benefits.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for those claiming a relevant benefit, has been placed in the Library.

Unemployment Benefits

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which 50 parliamentary constituencies had the highest  (a) number and  (b) proportion of households in receipt of (i) jobseekers allowance, (ii) income support and (iii) incapacity benefit in the most recent period for which figures are available;
	(2)  which 50 local authority areas had the highest proportion of working age households in receipt of  (a) jobseekers allowance,  (b) income support and  (c) incapacity benefit in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for those who are claiming a relevant benefit, has been placed in the Library.

Unemployment Benefits: Children

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which 50 local authority areas had the highest proportion of children living in households in receipt of  (a) jobseekers allowance,  (b) income support and  (c) incapacity benefit in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for the proportion of children who have a parent or guardian in receipt of a relevant benefit, has been placed in the Library.

Unemployment Benefits: Children

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which 50 parliamentary constituencies had the highest proportion of children living in households in receipt of  (a) jobseekers allowance,  (b) income support and  (c) incapacity benefit in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for the proportions of children who have a parent or guardian in receipt of a relevant benefit, has been placed in the Library.

Unemployment Benefits: Children

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children are estimated to be living in households in receipt of  (a) income support and  (b) incapacity benefit in each (i) borough and (ii) parliamentary constituency in London.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for the numbers of children who have a parent or guardian in receipt of a relevant benefit, has been placed in the Library.

Unemployment Benefits: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working age households were in receipt of  (a) jobseekers allowance,  (b) income support and  (c) incapacity benefit in each London parliamentary constituency in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available for households in the format requested. The available information, which is for the numbers in receipt of each benefit, is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of working age incapacity benefit/sever disablement allowance, income support and jobseeker's allowance claimants in London 
			  November each year 
			   Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance  Income support  Jobseekers allowance 
			   2005  2006  2007  2005  2006  2007  2005  2006  2007 
			 Barking 4,420 4,360 4,240 5,930 5,890 5,790 2,010 1,960 1,820 
			 Battersea 3,530 3,490 3,400 4,080 4,150 3,940 1,960 1,780 1,360 
			 Beckenham 3,100 3,100 3,050 3,230 3,240 3,120 1,430 1,250 1,090 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow 6,890 6,850 6,910 8,850 8,810 8,680 4,410 4,750 4,170 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 2,480 2,470 2,480 2,320 2,380 2,340 950 940 700 
			 Brent East 4,950 4,860 4,820 5,760 5,780 5,590 2,620 2,750 2,320 
			 Brent North 2,900 2,900 2,880 3,060 3,080 3,000 1,250 1,240 920 
			 Brent South 5,030 4,930 4,820 6,250 6,220 5,870 2,850 2,920 2,430 
			 Brentford and Isleworth 4,380 4,310 4,290 4,660 4,650 4,550 1,610 1,530 1,220 
			 Bromley and Chislehurst 2,500 2,450 2,490 2,420 2,510 2,490 990 1,000 810 
			 Camberwell and Peckham 5,320 5,270 5,310 7,210 7,120 6,970 3,220 3,080 2,740 
			 Carshalton and Wallington 3,110 3,200 3,140 3,340 3,350 3,430 1,200 1,160 970 
			 Chingford and Woodford Green 2,700 2,750 2,760 2,830 2,930 2,990 1,200 1,220 1,040 
			 Chipping Barnet 2,810 2,910 2,910 2,990 3,060 3,070 1,250 1,260 980 
			 Cities of London and Westminster 4,880 4,830 4,990 4,690 4,720 4,770 1,930 1,880 1,610 
			 Croydon Central 4,300 4,330 4,280 5,750 5,840 5,680 1,890 1,880 1,560 
			 Croydon North 5,130 5,100 5,070 6,400 6,500 6,470 2,870 3,010 2,440 
			 Croydon South 2,590 2,670 2,650 2,550 2,620 2,600 900 870 750 
			 Dagenham 4,230 4,120 4,060 5,210 5,290 5,380 1,920 1,920 1,670 
			 Dulwich and West Norwood 4,590 4,540 4,400 5,710 5,690 5,530 2,580 2,500 1,970 
			 Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush 5,710 5,610 5,710 6,900 6,930 6,790 2,580 2,650 2,250 
			 Ealing North 4,300 4,320 4,250 5,270 5,300 5,120 1,960 2,010 1,570 
			 Ealing Southall 5,760 5,610 5,590 5,550 5,510 5,420 2,570 2,490 2,130 
			 East Ham 5,530 5,630 5,650 7,780 7,840 7,660 3,040 3,140 2,620 
			 Edmonton 4,980 4,880 4,860 6,770 6,850 7,000 2,770 2,720 2,200 
			 Eltham 3,520 3,460 3,510 4,000 4,060 4,040 1,460 1,530 1,170 
			 Enfield North 4,630 4,570 4,510 5,830 5,980 6,100 2,020 2,040 1,750 
			 Enfield Southgate 2,900 2,810 2,780 2,790 2,780 2,780 1,510 1,410 1,090 
			 Erith and Thamesmead 4,710 4,790 4,760 6,360 6,520 6,400 2,440 2,470 1,940 
			 Feltham and Heston 4,590 4,430 4,390 5,220 5,160 5,080 1,730 1,690 1,430 
			 Finchley and Golders Green 3,340 3,310 3,310 3,650 3,590 3,600 1,700 1,670 1,220 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 5,130 5,120 5,110 6,800 6,710 6,580 2,580 2,340 1,850 
			 Hackney North and Stoke Newington 5,980 5,790 5,670 8,110 7,940 7,650 3,220 3,370 2,930 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 7,390 7,370 7,370 10,610 10,450 10,150 3,870 4,160 3,470 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,380 5,320 5,240 6,280 6,250 6,030 2,360 2,300 1,960 
			 Hampstead and Highgate 4,840 4,600 4,590 5,550 5,370 5,190 2,090 1,950 1,560 
			 Harrow East 3,980 3,930 3,980 4,020 4,110 4,150 1,690 1,690 1,180 
			 Harrow West 2,950 2,840 2,820 3,040 3,040 2,900 1,230 1,110 970 
			 Hayes and Harlington 3,720 3,630 3,600 4,390 4,620 4,590 1,730 1,530 1,290 
			 Hendon 4,060 4,160 4,140 5,380 5,430 5,320 2,010 1,880 1,470 
			 Holborn and St. Pancras 7,090 6,770 6,680 8,270 7,980 7,640 3,120 2,880 2,220 
			 Hornchurch 2,450 2,360 2,280 2,090 2,140 2,100 780 790 700 
			 Hornsey and Wood Green 5,100 4,960 4,840 6,100 6,030 5,750 2,660 2,670 2,200 
			 Ilford North 3,590 3,530 3,400 3,580 3,580 3,650 1,230 1,320 1,080 
			 Ilford South 4,610 4,620 4,620 5,350 5,650 5,680 2,410 2,470 2,070 
			 Islington North 6,630 6,490 6,420 8,180 8,040 7,680 3,130 3,160 2,600 
			 Islington South and Finsbury 5,810 5,780 5,790 7,760 7,610 7,490 2,530 2,340 2,100 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,190 3,120 3,070 3,180 3,130 3,100 1,370 1,250 1,050 
			 Kingston and Surbiton 2,840 2,930 2,860 2,680 2,790 2,750 1,090 1,000 810 
			 Lewisham Deptford 4,290 4,340 4,340 5,750 5,790 5,830 2,820 2,550 2,150 
			 Lewisham East 3,700 3,770 3,780 4,770 5,010 4,970 1,840 1,780 1,480 
			 Lewisham West 4,020 4,100 4,130 5,090 5,220 5,300 2,380 2,270 1,760 
			 Leyton and Wanstead 3,880 3,850 3,800 4,790 4,710 4,540 2,220 2,270 1,880 
			 Mitcham and Morden 3,310 3,370 3,380 4,050 4,100 4,070 2,090 1,930 1,410 
			 North Southwark and Bermondsey 6,260 6,300 6,180 8,180 8,070 7,900 3,370 3,230 2,680 
			 Old Bexley and Sidcup 2,050 2,050 2,070 1,590 1,630 1,660 690 720 550 
			 Orpington 2,870 2,890 2,850 2,860 2,950 2,980 1,140 1,030 840 
			 Poplar and Canning Town 7,120 7,090 7,060 10,650 10,540 10,110 4,290 4,750 4,320 
			 Putney 2,910 2,860 2,800 3,240 3,280 3,210 1,210 1,110 910 
			 Regent's Park and North Kensington 8,800 8,780 8,780 10,750 10,820 10,540 3,160 3,230 2,640 
			 Richmond Park 2,210 2,270 2,260 2,190 2,210 2,120 950 820 660 
			 Romford 2,500 2,460 2,470 2,240 2,240 2,280 780 820 710 
			 Ruislip-Northwood 2,020 1,980 1,970 1,870 1,870 1,850 810 700 590 
			 Streatham 5,060 5,020 4,920 6,650 6,620 6,460 3,310 3,140 2,750 
			 Sutton and Cheam 2,020 2,020 2,010 1,700 1,740 1,770 880 760 610 
			 Tooting 3,360 3,340 3,230 3,630 3,610 3,600 1,760 1,670 1,300 
			 Tottenham 7,490 7,280 7,220 10,730 10,720 10,320 5,050 4,820 3,960 
			 Twickenham 2,390 2,380 2,380 2,220 2,230 2,170 940 890 630 
			 Upminster 2,740 2,710 2,670 2,400 2,450 2,430 820 830 680 
			 Uxbridge 2,650 2,600 2,670 2,930 2,950 2,890 970 1,040 790 
			 Vauxhall 6,720 6,660 6,460 8,930 8,760 8,280 3,930 3,730 3,210 
			 Walthamstow 4,320 4,270 4,300 5,620 5,650 5,600 2,940 3,140 2,670 
			 West Ham 5,220 5,190 5,140 7,000 6,980 6,680 2,880 3,070 2,740 
			 Wimbledon 1,750 1,700 1,630 1,500 1,480 1,400 840 790 610 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Due to possible benefit overlaps the figures cannot be summed. 3. Numbers of working age incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance and jobseeker's allowance claimants by parliamentary constituency, are published on the NOMIS website at www.nomisweb.co.uk  Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how frequently his Department restates the asset values of its building estate.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development's building estate is revalued every five years. The one UK owned property, in East Kilbride, was last valued in April 2006.

Departmental ICT

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's staff have access to the Department's IT infrastructure at home.

Shahid Malik: The number of Department for International Development (DFID) staff that have access to the Department's infrastructure from home is 1,788. This is based on the number of laptops that have been issued to staff. These laptops are capable of connecting remotely to the DFID IT infrastructure and are fully encrypted.

Departmental Waste

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) has taken a number of steps to reduce waste in recent years. These include:
	Using tap water rather than bottled water for all meetings and official business;
	Reducing the number of printers in the office and ensuring that these are all set to print double-sided as default, to reduce the amount of paper used;
	Replaced disposable cups in our staff restaurant in London with glasses, and reduced the use of condiments, etc., in individual sachets;
	Ensured that redundant IT equipment is reused wherever possible, i.e. through donation to charitable organisations;
	Increased the number of recycling containers so that paper, etc., is sorted separately.
	In the last Sustainable Development in Government report (2007) published by the Sustainable Development Commission, DFID was confirmed to have reduced its waste by 9.6 per cent. in 2006-07 against the Government baseline of 2004-05, so has already met the target to reduce by 5 per cent. by 2010. We also recycled 80.9 per cent. of our waste, meeting the Government target.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development is committed to responding to written parliamentary questions promptly. Since the start of the 2007-08 Session to date:
	 (a) 78 per cent. of 1,091 ordinary written questions have been answered within five sitting days.
	 (b) 87 per cent. of 217 named day questions have been answered on the day specified.
	Information to the level of detail requested could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Developing Countries

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what standards are used to identify nations that qualify as poor countries under the expanded guidelines of the Export Credit Agency.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	In January 2008, the Export Credit Group of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) adopted a set of Principles and Guidelines to promote Sustainable Lending Practices in the Provision of Official Export Credits to Low Income Countriessee:
	http://www.oecd.org
	Alongside all other OECD member Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) is implementing these principles and guidelines (taking into account its own existing 'Productive Expenditure' guidelines), which seek to ensure that ECAs support export credits responsibly to those poor countries that are especially vulnerable to debt servicing problems.
	The relevant countries are defined and listed in the OECD Principles and Guidelines. They are mainly those that have access to assistance from the International Development Association (IDA), part of the World Bank, and include most of the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) as classified by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Foreign Secretary on the promotion of human rights related to HIV.

Gillian Merron: During the development of the UK's updated strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world, Achieving Universal Access, Department for International Development (DFID) officials consulted with officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) about the role of the FCO in promoting and protecting human rights in the context of HIV. HIV/AIDS is a cross-government priority and, as outlined in Achieving Universal Access, the FCO will work with DFID to ensure broad and effective UK support to international and national AIDS responses that promote and protect human rights.
	A copy of the updated strategy Achieving Universal Accessthe UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes are organised by his Department that promote integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights, as referred to in his most recent Departmental report.

Gillian Merron: The UK is strongly committed to both universal access to AIDS services and universal access to reproductive health; both commitments the UK helped to secure in 2007. The UK's updated AIDS strategy, 'Achieving Universal Accessthe UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world', emphasises the importance of integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights with actions to prevent new HIV and AIDS infections.
	The promotion of male and female condom use and integrating condom promotion into sexual and reproductive health and rights services have a vital role in HIV prevention, especially in concentrated epidemics, where HIV is found among recognised high risk groups. Examples of the Department for International Development's (DFID) programmes which promote integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights services include a 52.8 million programme in Nigeria to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights for the prevention of HIV and 100 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to increase access to reproductive health commodities.
	A copy of the updated strategy 'Achieving Universal Accessthe UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world' and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.

Indonesia: Environment Protection

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the objectives are for the fund his Department is establishing in Indonesia to be managed by the Indonesian Bio Diversity Foundation; when it will begin operating; when it is expected to cease operating; and whether the fund will support  (a) government and  (b) private sector projects.

Douglas Alexander: The objectives for the fund are to reduce and eliminate illegal logging, to achieve poverty reduction through community-based forest management and to support reforms for reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation. The agreement was signed in February this year and runs until October 2010.
	The fund will finance both government and civil society projects. Projects include implementing a European Union-Indonesia voluntary partnership agreement on forest law enforcement, governance and trade, legal reforms to reduce corruption, community-based forest management and strengthening local community foundations in six regions.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to improve the UK's position in the UN Commitment to Development Index.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the Centre for Global Developments' Commitment to Development Index (CDI) and sponsored the 2007 launch event at which I spoke. The UK is ranked 9th out of the 21 countries assessed in the index, an improvement of three places on the previous year.
	DFID works across Government, through the European Union and the OECD and internationally to promote policy coherence for development (which the CDI measures). Our achievements and success are set out in DFID's 2007 Annual Report. This is available in the Library of the House and on the DFID website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.
	An example includes the establishment of a Joint Trade Policy Unit with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to ensure coherence between our aid and trade agendas.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the European Commission's aim to co-ordinate all external policies that interwine with development objectives affect his Department's relationship with other board aid organisations, as referred to in his Department's most recent departmental report.

Gareth Thomas: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave on 26 June 2008,  Official Report , column 491W.

Southern Perspectives

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is providing to the Southern Perspectives project.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) contributed 83,677 in 2007-08 to the North-South Institute project on Southern Perspectives on Reform of the International Architecture Phase II. The project was also supported by Canada, Norway and Sweden, and is now completed. DFID also contributed 70,022 in 2005-06 to the first phase of the project, which was a Study to Present a Developing Country Perspective on the Current Structure and Functioning of the International Development Architecture.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Cancer: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were diagnosed with cancer in  (a) Bexley and  (b) London in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 8 July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people were diagnosed with cancer in (a) Bexley and (b) London in each of the last five years
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases (incidence) of cancer are for the year 2005. Figures requested are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Numbers of newly diagnosed cases of cancer( 1)  registered in Bexley local authority and London government office region, 2001 to 2005 
			  Persons 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Bexley 984 946 955 1,002 955 
			 London 26,448 26,159 26,782 25,863 25,818 
			 (1 )All cancers, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, are classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10): C00-C97 excluding C44  Source: Office for National Statistics

Cost of Living

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effects of fuel prices on the cost of living; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 8 July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of the effects of fuel prices on the cost of living. (215965)
	The Retail Prices Index (RPI) and the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), both measure the change in the prices of goods and services bought for the purpose of consumption by the vast majority of households in the UK.
	For the RPI, petrol and oil increased by 18.4 per cent between May 2007 and May 2008. This represents a contribution of 0.7 percentage points to the overall RPI rate of 4.3 per cent. Similarly, for the CPI fuels and lubricants increased by 19.5 per cent between May 2007 and May 2008. This represents a contribution of 0.7 percentage points to the overall CPI rate of 3.3 per cent.

Departmental Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what the average cost to his Department was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08;
	(2)  what the average cost to the Prime Minister's Office was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08.

Tom Watson: The Prime Minister's Office forms part of the Cabinet Office.
	As at 31 March 2008 there were 16 Press Officers in the Cabinet Office in a number of different grades. Information on the average cost to the Department of a press officer would be available only at disproportionate costs.
	Press Officers usually fall within the Technical and Information Specialists pay bands (TIS grades), with senior press officers falling in Pay Band A.
	Copies of the Cabinet Office pay scales have been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) employees and  (b) full-time equivalent employees there are in each sub-division of (i) the Prime Minister's Office and (ii) the Cabinet Office.

Tom Watson: The annual departmental reports for the Cabinet Office contain details of staffing within each division of the Department. Copies are available in the Library. The departmental report for 2008 is expected to be published before the summer recess.

Departmental Manpower

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average fully-loaded cost is of a full-time equivalent member of staff of his Department working in Whitehall.

Tom Watson: Details of the average fully loaded cost of a full-time equivalent member of staff working in Whitehall, is not held centrally and is therefore only available at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1217W, on departmental ministerial policy advisers, which staff members in the Prime Minister's Office  (a) have received severance payment and  (b) have not received severance payments in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: Paragraph 14b of the Model Contract for Special Advisers sets out the circumstances in which severance is paid. It would not be appropriate to disclose names of individuals who have received severance in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

Departmental Sick Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much sick pay to staff in the Cabinet Office cost in the last five years for which figures are available.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office does not currently publish the cost of absence and the calculation of this information would represent a disproportionate cost.

Employment: North East

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were in employment in the North East in each quarter since January 2003, calculated with reference to the December 2007 changes in methodology, broken down by  (a) employees,  (b) self-employed,  (c) the armed forces and  (d) trainees.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 8 July 2008:
	.
	The Workforce Jobs estimates combine Employee Jobs figures with self employment jobs from the Labour Force Survey, as well as HM Forces jobs figures and the number of government-supported trainees. However, HM Forces job estimates are only available at a national level.
	The attached table provides estimates of employee jobs, self-employment jobs and government-supported trainees, for the North East for each quarter from December 2002 to March 2008, the latest available.
	However, there is a discontinuity in the employee jobs series between December 2005 and September 2006, which means we are unable to calculate the time series on a consistent basis across its full length. The change in December 2007 made improvements to the annual benchmark and the quality of estimates of employment. More information about revisions to the Workforce Jobs series can be found at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=9765
	Civilian regional Workforce Job estimates are published as part of the quarterly regional labour market statistics first release and can be obtained on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=15084
	
		
			  Number of jobs in the North East, 2002-08 
			  T housand (not seasonally adjusted) 
			   Civilian work force jobs  Employee jobs  Self employment jobs  Government-supported trainees 
			  2002 
			 December 1,104 1,005 93 6 
			  
			  2003 
			 March 1,098 993 98 6 
			 June 1,110 999 105 6 
			 September 1,116 999 111 7 
			 December 1,131 1,014 109 7 
			  
			  2004 
			 March 1,125 1,007 110 7 
			 June 1,116 1,003 106 7 
			 September 1,131 1,017 106 8 
			 December 1,121 1,015 98 8 
			  
			  2005 
			 March 1,129 1,028 93 8 
			 June 1,142 1,039 96 7 
			 September 1,170 1,054 108 7 
			 December 1,184 1,064 113 7 
			  
			  2006 
			 March 1,167 1,042 118 6 
			 June 1,171 1,047 119 5 
			 September 1,172 1,046 121 4 
			 December 1,181 1,059 118 4 
			  
			  2007 
			 March 1,169 1,047 117 4 
			 June 1,183 1,050 130 3 
			 September 1,183 1,053 126 4 
			 December 1,197 1,068 125 4 
			  
			  2008 
			 March 1,184 1,058 122 4 
			  Notes: 1. Workforce Jobs figures are a measure of jobs rather than people. For example, if a person holds two jobs, each job will be counted in the total. 2. Estimates of HM Forces Jobs using Workforce Jobs are not available below the national level. 3. There is a discontinuity in the employee jobs series between December 2005 and September 2006 due to improvements to the annual benchmark. Further information can be found at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/Statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=9765  Source: Workforce Jobs Series

National Income: North East

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the gross value-added (GVA) figure per head for each NUTS 2 region in the North East is; what proportion of UK GVA each represents; and what each figure was in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2005.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about gross value added (GVA) for each NUTS2 region in the North East. (216744)
	The latest data available for the NUTS2 regions are for 2005. Data for 2006 will be published in December 2008. The table below shows the GVA, the proportions of UK GVA of the North East regions, GVA per head and the per head index of the NUTS2 regions for the North East in 2005.
	
		
			  Regional GVA for the NUTS 2 regions of the North East, 2005 
			  Region  Total GVA ( billion)( 1)  Share of UK (Percentage)  Per head ()  Per head index 
			 United Kingdom(2) 1096.6 100 18,205 100 
			 North East 37 3 14,419 81 
			  
			  North East NUTS 2 Regions 
			 Tees Valley and Durham 15 1 13,097 73 
			 Northumberland and Tyne and Wear 22 2 15,511 87 
			 (1) Figures may not sum due to rounding. (2) UK total includes extra regio (offshore contribution to GVA that cannot be assigned to any region), but the per head index excludes extra regio.

Prostate Cancer: Medical Treatments

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many men  (a) were offered and  (b) accepted first line hormone therapy to treat metastatic prostate cancer in each of the last three years.

Tom Watson: holding answer 2008
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 8 July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many men  (a) were offered and  (b) accepted first line hormone therapy to treat metastatic prostate cancer in each of the last three years. (216755)
	The number of men who  (a) were offered treatments for prostate cancer is not recorded on the national cancer registration system.
	The statistics relate to all cases of prostate cancer since the recording of stage in the cancer register cannot provide nationally comparable data on metastatic prostate cancer.
	The following table shows, for 2003-05, the number of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer  (b) receiving hormone therapy treatment. The latest year for which data are available is 2005. In 45 per cent. of prostate cancer cases in the national cancer registry database, either no treatment information was recorded or patients were recorded as having had no treatment.
	
		
			  Newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer( 1)  receiving hormonal treatment, England, 2003-05 
			 2003 8,124 
			 2004 8,277 
			 2005 7,954 
			 (1) Prostate cancer is coded to C61 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10)  Source:  Office for National Statistics

Teenage Pregnancy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of births were to teenage mothers in each of the last 10 years, broken down by primary care trust area.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 8 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what percentage of births were to teenage mothers in each of the last 10 years, broken down by primary care trust area. (216554)
	The table provides the percentage of live births which were to mothers aged under 20 years, in each primary care organisation in England, for 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available). A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Teenage Pregnancy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many teenagers gave birth in each constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many teenagers gave birth in each constituency in each of the last 10 years. (216556)
	The table provides the number of maternities to mothers aged under 20 years, in each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales, for 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available). A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Teenage Pregnancy: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the conception rate for women under 18 years living in  (a) wards with a benefit claim rate of 25 per cent. or above and  (b) wards in the 10 local authority districts with the lowest employment rates which have benefit claim rates between 20 and 25 per cent. was in each year since 1997.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated July 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the conception rate for women under 18 years living in (a) wards with a benefit claim rate of 25 per cent or above and (b) wards in the 10 local authority districts with the lowest employment rates which have benefit claim rates between 20 and 25 per cent was in each year since 1997. (216670)
	Conception rates by ward are not available.
	I am sorry I cannot be more helpful on this occasion.

Trade Unions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1185W, on trades unions, if he will place a copy of each partnership agreement in the Library.

Tom Watson: Yes.

Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what training courses were  (a) available to and  (b) taken up by civil servants in the Cabinet Office in the last 12 months.

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what training courses run by external organisations were attended by staff of 10 Downing street in the last 12 months.

Tom Watson: Cabinet Office staff have the opportunity to develop and improve their skills continuously in accordance with our commitment to Investors in People and in line with Professional Skills for Government.
	In addition, management units across the Cabinet Office arrange training to fulfil local skills needs with a wide range of external training providers. Detailed information relating to training activity of this kind is not held centrally by the Department.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was awarded for personalised learning and pupil support  (a) in England and  (b) to each local education authority (LEA) in 2007-08, expressed (i) as a cash sum and (ii) per head of the LEA-supported pupil population.

Jim Knight: The Comprehensive Spending Review for the period 2008-11 allocated the following funding for personalised learning and Special Educational Needs through the Dedicated Schools Grant:
	
		
			million 
			 2008-09 330 
			 2009-10 535 
			 2010-11 912 
		
	
	The further information requested is contained in a table. LA awards for 2009 2010 and 2010-11 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Funding for Personalised Learning and Special Educational Needs for 2008-09 by  l ocal  a uthority 
			  Local authority  Personalised Learning  SEN ( million) 2008/09  Amount per Pupil () 2008/09 
			 City of London 0.013 53.50 
			 Camden 1.091 54.66 
			 Greenwich 1.813 55.70 
			 Hackney 1.320 54.32 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0.801 53.32 
			 Islington 1.207 55.82 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0.560 51.88 
			 Lambeth 1.549 53.70 
			 Lewisham 1.718 55.08 
			 Southwark 1.580 54.19 
			 Tower Hamlets 2.002 56.53 
			 Wandsworth 1.474 54.04 
			 Westminster 0.927 54.52 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1.410 47.55 
			 Barnet 2.148 50.21 
			 Bexley 1.773 48.73 
			 Brent 1.912 50.55 
			 Bromley 2.098 48.25 
			 Croydon 2.261 47.64 
			 Ealing 2.012 50.11 
			 Enfield 2.285 48.57 
			 Haringey 1.540 48.01 
			 Harrow 1.510 51.27 
			 Havering 1.741 48.86 
			 Hillingdon 1.921 50.68 
			 Hounslow 1.674 51.36 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0.976 50.68 
			 Merton 1.038 48.77 
			 Newham 2.285 47.79 
			 Redbridge 1.980 48.02 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1.040 49.21 
			 Sutton 1.457 51.40 
			 Waltham Forest 1.662 47.58 
			 Birmingham 7.538 44.85 
			 Coventry 2.043 44.72 
			 Dudley 2.181 45.75 
			 Sandwell 2.004 44.50 
			 Solihull 1.480 45.41 
			 Walsall 1.942 45.49 
			 Wolverhampton 1.630 45.42 
			 Knowsley 1.009 44.79 
			 Liverpool 2.732 44.78 
			 St. Helens 1.150 44.60 
			 Sefton 1.802 45.05 
			 Wirral 2.089 44.77 
			 Bolton 1.958 45.27 
			 Bury 1.246 45.00 
			 Manchester 2.753 44.76 
			 Oldham 1.738 45.00 
			 Rochdale 1.449 44.82 
			 Salford 1.348 44.87 
			 Stockport 1.719 44.89 
			 Tameside 1.567 45.63 
			 Trafford 1.514 44.91 
			 Wigan 2.108 45.59 
			 Barnsley 1.435 44.59 
			 Doncaster 1.915 44.40 
			 Rotherham 1.864 44.97 
			 Sheffield 3.063 44.11 
			 Bradford 3.513 44.15 
			 Calderdale 1.430 44.41 
			 Kirklees 2.713 44.39 
			 Leeds 4.450 44.43 
			 Wakefield 2.128 45.50 
			 Gateshead 1.142 44.33 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 1.485 43.95 
			 North Tyneside 1.211 44.38 
			 South Tyneside 0.956 44.83 
			 Sunderland 1.814 45.07 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1.114 46.80 
			 Bristol, City of 1.971 43.61 
			 North Somerset 1.294 46.56 
			 South Gloucestershire 1.783 46.72 
			 Hartlepool 0.652 44.92 
			 Middlesbrough 0.805 43.82 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 0.982 45.20 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1.240 44.23 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 1.592 44.41 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2.107 45.56 
			 North East Lincolnshire 0.952 44.05 
			 North Lincolnshire 1.085 44.94 
			 North Yorkshire 3.609 44.76 
			 York 1.009 44.56 
			 Bedfordshire 2.804 47.01 
			 Luton 1.392 45.49 
			 Buckinghamshire 3.415 48.36 
			 Milton Keynes 1.742 47.83 
			 Derbyshire 4.770 44.85 
			 Derby 1.603 44.60 
			 Dorset 2.389 45.29 
			 Poole 0.799 44.45 
			 Bournemouth 0.885 44.28 
			 Durham 3.082 45.00 
			 Darlington 0.628 43.92 
			 East Sussex 2.952 45.84 
			 Brighton and Hove 1.327 44.42 
			 Hampshire 8.160 46.46 
			 Portsmouth 1.131 46.00 
			 Southampton 1.293 45.78 
			 Leicestershire 4.064 44.91 
			 Leicester 2.016 44.35 
			 Rutland 0.223 43.95 
			 Staffordshire 5.238 44.70 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 1.499 43.88 
			 Wiltshire 2.902 45.39 
			 Swindon 1.276 44.95 
			 Bracknell Forest 0.733 49.36 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 0.923 51.06 
			 West Berkshire 1.181 50.70 
			 Reading 0.758 48.63 
			 Slough 1.010 49.59 
			 Wokingham 1.129 51.27 
			 Cambridgeshire 3.614 46.27 
			 Peterborough 1.219 45.97 
			 Cheshire 4.381 45.44 
			 Halton 0.835 45.26 
			 Warrington 1.374 45.23 
			 Devon 4.204 44.76 
			 Plymouth 1.575 44.76 
			 Torbay 0.787 44.59 
			 Essex 8.988 46.31 
			 Southend-on-Sea 1.155 45.37 
			 Thurrock 1.072 47.30 
			 Herefordshire 1.026 44.42 
			 Worcestershire 3.374 44.49 
			 Kent 8.956 45.44 
			 Medway 1.831 45.07 
			 Lancashire 7.408 44.65 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1.101 44.30 
			 Blackpool 0.931 44.90 
			 Nottinghamshire 4.887 44.80 
			 Nottingham 1.553 43.89 
			 Shropshire 1.716 44.32 
			 Telford and Wrekin 1.089 44.07 
			 Cornwall 3.155 45.10 
			 Cumbria 3.124 45.16 
			 Gloucestershire 3.718 45.45 
			 Hertfordshire 7.752 48.56 
			 Isle of Wight 0.853 47.50 
			 Lincolnshire 4.412 44.95 
			 Norfolk 4.856 44.78 
			 Northamptonshire 4.458 44.97 
			 Northumberland 1.983 44.86 
			 Oxfordshire 3.818 47.58 
			 Somerset 3.127 44.62 
			 Suffolk 4.289 45.33 
			 Surrey 6.925 49.79 
			 Warwickshire 3.348 45.64 
			 West Sussex 4.691 45.44